El-Rufai still our card-carrying member — APC chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State and former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has declared that former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, remains a member of the APC.

He made this known while speaking with journalists on Thursday after embarking on a tour of eight local government areas in the Kaduna North Senatorial Zone.

He described the tour as a move to bolster the party’s base and rally support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani ahead of the forthcoming by-election and the 2027 general elections.

Reacting to speculations surrounding El-Rufai’s political status, Jamoh maintained that, as far as he is concerned, the former governor is still with the APC.

“We are yet to reach the point where we will say farewell to Malam Nasir El-Rufai. Forget about the politics. When we need his advice, we consult him, and he offers his contributions free of charge,” he said.

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According to him, El-Rufai’s experience remains valuable to the party. “You cannot disown your child of eight years. He was governor for eight years under the APC. Even when he was in the PDP and later the CPC, which merged into the APC, he contributed to the building of this party,” Jamoh noted.

He added: “It is his right to take any personal or political decision. But where we want to tap into his knowledge and experience for the benefit of the state and the party, we will always do so. Our doors are open, and I believe his are too.”

While acknowledging El-Rufai’s recent association with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jamoh dismissed it as a developing situation. “You don’t name a child until there is a successful delivery.

“Let’s wait and see how the ADC process ends — who will be the party leader, who will emerge as the presidential candidate, and what structure will be in place. Until then, we watch.”

He reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and described the party as the “field marshal” of Nigerian politics. “Have you ever seen a field marshal frightened by a non-commissioned officer? APC remains the field marshal,” he quipped.

Jamoh said defections are part of democracy but insisted that the APC remains strong in Kaduna and nationally. He reiterated his support for the Tinubu–Uba Sani alliance, likening it to a political marriage that must be nurtured. “Even when your wife is no longer young, you don’t send her packing. Tinubu is our partner in this political marriage,” he said.

He also confirmed receiving calls to contest the Kaduna North Senatorial seat in 2027. “Yes, my constituents have called on me to contest. I have written to the stakeholders, seeking their advice and prayers,” he disclosed.

Jamoh urged APC members to remain focused and united ahead of the 2027 polls. “This is not the time for distractions. Let’s consolidate our gains and ensure continuity in good governance,” he added.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE