A group of former political associates and grassroots allies of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, known as Kaduna De-Initiative, has rejected accusations of betrayal over their decision to leave his political camp. They claim that El-Rufai abandoned the political understanding that had bound them together. The group, led by former Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon Mukthar Isa Hazo, and former Kaduna State SDP chairman, Hon Nasiru Abdullahi Maikano, includes several notable figures who supported El-Rufai's administration.
According to the group, their decision to move on was due to growing political disagreements, marginalisation, and a breakdown of mutual trust. They assert that they supported, campaigned for, defended El-Rufai, and helped build political structures across Kaduna State. However, after years of feeling excluded and undervalued, they decided to realign their political affiliations. The group consists of former commissioners, legislators, and other prominent politicians who played significant roles in El-Rufai's administration.
The former allies pointed out that their relationship with El-Rufai began to deteriorate after his re-election in 2019. They felt increasingly excluded from decision-making processes, while members of El-Rufai's family were perceived to be gaining more influence in government affairs. The group expressed concern about the growing dominance of family interests, which they believe weakened the political structure that had supported El-Rufai's administration.
A significant event that contributed to the rift was the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship primary. The group claimed that Ja'afaru Sani, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, was their preferred successor and the figure around whom their structure would be organised for the 2027 governorship contest. However, El-Rufai allegedly supported Isa Ashiru, his former political rival, who eventually emerged as the ADC candidate.
The group also alleged that El-Rufai's support for Ashiru was connected to an effort to retain political influence over a possible Ashiru administration. They claimed that El-Rufai's wives would receive appointments if the ADC won the 2027 election, although this allegation has not been independently established. The former associates acknowledged that their experience should be viewed in the context of a wider history of changing political relationships around El-Rufai.
Kaduna De-Initiative listed several former associates who had also changed their political affiliations, including former SSG Balarabe Lawal Abbas, former Chief of Staff Hadiza Bala Usman, and former Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe. The group clarified that these individuals did not necessarily share identical reasons for their political differences with El-Rufai. They argued that political loyalty could not be treated as a permanent debt and that El-Rufai's former associates had the right to determine their own political future.
The group announced that they had accepted Governor Uba Sani's reconciliation initiative and returned to the APC. They pledged to focus on security, education, infrastructure, employment, economic opportunities, and peaceful coexistence. The former allies stated that their decision was not motivated by hatred or a desire for revenge but by the need to take responsibility for their political future and that of their followers. They insisted that they would not apologise for exercising their political independence.
Key points
- Former allies of El-Rufai claim he abandoned their political understanding.
- The group rejected allegations of betrayal and stated that their decision to leave was due to growing disagreements and marginalisation.
- Kaduna De-Initiative has returned to the APC and pledged to focus on key development areas.
