Former political associates and grassroots supporters of ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have dismissed claims that they betrayed the former governor, arguing that the political relationship between both sides broke down after El-Rufai allegedly abandoned the understanding that initially united them.
The position was contained in a statement signed by former Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Mukhtar Isa Hazo, and other members of the group, under the aegis of Kaduna De-Initiative. The statement was made available to journalists in Kaduna on Thursday.
The group said its members had supported El-Rufai’s political career, campaigned for him, defended his administration and helped establish political structures across Kaduna State.
According to the former allies, however, their relationship with the former governor gradually deteriorated following disagreements over political inclusion, alleged marginalisation and what they described as a decline in mutual confidence.
The group also announced its return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following a reconciliation effort initiated by Governor Uba Sani.
It said the decision to return to the governing party was driven by the need to determine its political direction and protect the interests of its supporters across the state.
Among those associated with the realignment are former Kaduna State Social Democratic Party chairman and four-term member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly for Ungwan Sanusi Constituency, Nasiru Abdullahi Maikano.
Former commissioners Ja’afaru Sani, Shehu Usman Makarfi and Abdu Kwari are also part of the political realignment, alongside Bashir Saidu, who served as Commissioner for Local Government Affairs and Finance and twice occupied the position of Chief of Staff under El-Rufai.
‘We Did Not Abandon El-Rufai’
Responding to descriptions of its members as disgruntled politicians attempting to regain political relevance, the group said its members had longstanding political experience and networks across the state.
“We are not a handful of disgruntled individuals looking for political relevance.
“Our members have contested elections, won and lost elections, mobilised communities and built political relationships across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.”
The former associates maintained that the breakdown in their relationship with El-Rufai was not initiated by them.
“We did not abandon El-Rufai; rather, we believe El-Rufai abandoned the political understanding that had bound us together.”
The group traced the deterioration of relations to El-Rufai’s second term in office, alleging that some of his former political allies felt increasingly shut out of government decision-making after his re-election in 2019.
It further alleged that members of El-Rufai’s family gradually acquired greater influence over affairs of the administration.
“Our grievance was never that El-Rufai relied on members of his family or trusted associates. The concern was the growing dominance of family interests and the weakening of the wider political structure that had supported the administration,” they said.
According to the group, the disagreements had become pronounced by 2023 and intensified after El-Rufai left office.
2027 Governorship Dispute
The group said the final breakdown occurred over political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 governorship election, particularly developments surrounding the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
It said Ja’afaru Sani had emerged within its political camp as the preferred candidate and the figure around whom its political structure was expected to mobilise.
“Ja’afaru Sani was the person around whom our political structure was expected to rally for the 2027 governorship contest,” it said.
The group alleged that El-Rufai subsequently supported Isa Ashiru, who had previously been his political opponent, during the ADC governorship primary.
“Instead of supporting the political arrangement we had built, El-Rufai chose to support Isa Ashiru, a former political opponent,” the group alleged.
Ashiru later won the ADC primary with 86,113 votes, defeating Sani, who polled 29,580 votes. Sani rejected the outcome and alleged irregularities in the exercise.
The former associates further alleged that El-Rufai’s backing of Ashiru was connected to an effort to preserve his political influence in the event of an ADC victory.
They also alleged that an understanding existed under which two of El-Rufai’s wives would receive appointments if the party won the election.
The group acknowledged, however, that the allegation concerning the proposed appointments had not been independently established by a court or substantiated by any publicly available agreement.
‘Political Loyalty Cannot Be a Permanent Debt’
The former allies said political relationships should not be interpreted as creating an indefinite obligation, arguing that both El-Rufai and his former associates were entitled to make independent political decisions.
“Political loyalty cannot be treated as a permanent debt. El-Rufai had the right to make his political choices, and we also have the right to make ours,” they stated.
They also disputed the perception that El-Rufai alone was responsible for building the political machinery that contributed to his electoral successes in Kaduna.
“El-Rufai did not create Kaduna politics from nothing. There were politicians, grassroots organisers, former elected officials and established political networks before he emerged as the dominant political figure,” the group said.
The group cited Saidu as an example, noting that he was involved in the state’s political structure before El-Rufai’s emergence as a dominant political figure and subsequently served as a commissioner and Chief of Staff in his administration.
Return to APC
The group said its return to the APC was not driven by animosity towards El-Rufai but by what it described as a decision to take greater responsibility for its political future and that of its supporters.
“This is not about hatred. It is not about revenge. It is about taking responsibility for our political future and the future of those who have followed us,” it said.
The former associates said they had accepted Governor Uba Sani’s reconciliation initiative and formally returned to the APC, adding that their political networks and grassroots supporters across the state would participate in the realignment.
“We have accepted the reconciliation initiative and returned to the APC.
“We are not interested in turning our disagreement with El-Rufai into a personal war. But we will not apologise for exercising our political independence.
“We are adults, and we have made our decision,” the group said.
El-Rufai has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February 18, 2026, in connection with an ongoing investigation.
His continued detention has generated political debate, with opposition figures and other political actors calling for his release and raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the length of his detention.
