By Joy Odor | Abuja | August 4, 2025
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a blistering response to former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, following his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing his comments as “infantile politics” and a threat to national progress.
In a strongly worded press statement signed by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka on Monday, the party accused El-Rufai of political bitterness and personal frustration stemming from his failed bid for a ministerial appointment.
“El-Rufai’s speedy fall from national relevance to political clownery demands a forensic study,” the statement read.
“His attacks on the Tinubu administration are nothing more than the bitter rants of an inconsolable sulker.”
El-Rufai, speaking at a meeting in Sokoto on August 2, had labeled the Tinubu-led government “incompetent, clannish, and undeserving of re-election.” The APC responded by dismissing his criticisms as hollow and lacking substance.
According to the ruling party, El-Rufai and his allies in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) offer no alternative policies, only “oversized egos,” “entitlement mentality,” and “predatory presidential ambitions.”
Morka defended the administration’s reform agenda, stating that the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of exchange rates were consensus positions among the leading 2023 presidential candidates, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
“It is disingenuous for El-Rufai and others to now attack the same policies they once supported. If they oppose these reforms, they should be brave enough to propose alternatives and show how they would fund the economic gap that would follow.”
Highlighting what it termed “verifiable progress,” the APC listed achievements including improved power generation, a growing stock market, increased oil production, rising investor confidence, and major infrastructure projects such as 420 roads and bridges.
The statement also noted the administration’s investment in education through the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and enhanced military capacity.
The party dismissed El-Rufai’s allegations of nepotism and clannishness as “mischievous” and accused him of hypocrisy, referencing his own controversial tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
Morka cited “obnoxious marginalisation” of ethnic minorities, “weaponised demolitions,” and a staggering N284 billion state debt under El-Rufai’s watch.
“El-Rufai has no moral standing to accuse anyone of bad governance. His record in Kaduna is a study in authoritarianism and recklessness,” the party stated.
The APC also alleged that El-Rufai and his ADC collaborators, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are attempting to derail the principle of presidential power rotation by pushing for another northern presidency in 2027.
“They are determined to do to Nigeria what Atiku did to the PDP in 2023—fracture it for personal gain,” Morka said.
The party concluded by expressing confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership and declared that his first term achievements already rival those of any previous Nigerian president.
“We are confident that Nigerians will renew President Tinubu’s mandate in 2027 to consolidate on what is arguably the most outstanding first-term record in our nation’s democratic history,” the statement added.
