‘FG, Tinubu And APC Leaders Very Scared Of El-Rufai’

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and retired broadcaster, Mohammed Barde, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regard former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as a major political threat.

Naijapunchnews reports that Barde claimed the legal challenges involving El-Rufai were politically motivated rather than the result of an impartial judicial process.

He made the allegations during an interview with Trust TV on Friday, where he argued that the former Kaduna governor’s growing political influence had unsettled the Presidency and the leadership of the ruling APC.

According to Barde, El-Rufai has become one of the most influential political figures in the country, a development he claimed has created anxiety within the ruling party.

He alleged that the APC leadership was uncomfortable with El-Rufai’s political relevance and influence ahead of future political contests.

“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, is scared of Nasir, very, very scared of him. People in government are scared of Nasir.

“He has become an enigma to the APC and the Presidency. They don’t want him to be free, and that’s why they are keeping him there.”

However, Barde did not provide any evidence to substantiate his claims.

Claims of Selective Prosecution

The ADC stalwart further argued that the treatment being meted out to El-Rufai differed from that of some former governors who had also faced allegations of wrongdoing but were not subjected to similar legal challenges.

According to him, the difference suggested that the former Kaduna governor was being singled out because of his political significance rather than the nature of the allegations against him.

When asked why other prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, had not faced comparable legal action, Barde insisted that El-Rufai occupied a unique place in Nigeria’s political landscape.

“I believe Nasir is in this situation because the President and all the people in the APC are scared of him,” he said.

Credits El-Rufai for Political Successes

Barde also claimed that El-Rufai played a crucial role in the political emergence of President Tinubu and several other prominent Nigerian politicians.

According to him, the former Kaduna governor made significant contributions to the political success of some of the country’s leading figures but had not received adequate recognition for those efforts.

He maintained that El-Rufai’s experience, political network, and influence continue to make him a formidable force in Nigerian politics.

The allegations come amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with several opposition parties seeking to strengthen their positions against the ruling APC. However, neither the Presidency nor the APC has officially responded to Barde’s claims. Additionally, no evidence was presented during the interview to support the allegation that El-Rufai’s legal challenges are politically motivated.