Former political associates and grassroots allies of ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, have rejected accusations of betraying their former boss, insisting that he abandoned the political understanding that brought them together.
Former Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Mukhtar Isa Hazo, in behalf of his other associates, stated this in a statement in Kaduna on Thursday.
El-Rufai’s former allies, under the aegis of Kaduna De-Initiative, said they supported, campaigned for and defended the former governor while helping to build political structures across the state before their relationship became strained by alleged marginalisation, disagreements and loss of mutual trust.
The former allies also announced their return to the ruling All Progressives Congress following Governor Uba Sani’s reconciliation initiative, explaining that their decision was based on the need to take responsibility for their political future and that of their supporters.
Also associated with the position is former Kaduna State Social Democratic Party chairman and four-time House of Assembly member for Ungwan Sanusi Constituency, Nasiru Abdullahi Maikano.
Others involved in the realignment include former commissioners Ja’afaru Sani, Shehu Usman Makarfi and Abdu Kwari, as well as former Commissioner for Local Government Affairs and Finance and two-time Chief of Staff to El-Rufai, Bashir Saidu.
The group, which rejected the labeling of its members as disgruntled politicians seeking relevance, said, “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.
“We did not abandon El-Rufai; rather, we believe El-Rufai abandoned the political understanding that had bound us together.”
The former allies traced the beginning of their differences with El-Rufai to his second term as governor, alleging that some of his former political associates increasingly felt excluded from decision-making after his re-election in 2019.
They also alleged that members of the former governor’s family gradually assumed greater influence in government affairs.
“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,” the group said.
They claimed their relationship was already seriously strained by 2023 and deteriorated further after El-Rufai left office.
The former allies identified the politics surrounding the 2027 governorship contest on the platform of the African Democratic Congress as the final rupture.
They said former commissioner Ja’afaru Sani was regarded by its political camp as the preferred successor and the politician around whom its structure would be organised for the 2027 election.
“Ja’afaru Sani was the person around whom our political structure was expected to rally for the 2027 governorship contest,” it said, alleging that El-Rufai decided to back his former political rival, Isa Ashiru, 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 subsequently emerged as the ADC candidate with 86,113 votes against Sani’s 29,580 votes, while Sani rejected the result and alleged irregularities.
The former associates further alleged that El-Rufai’s support for Ashiru was linked to an attempt to retain political influence under a possible ADC administration.
They also alleged an understanding that two of El-Rufai’s wives would receive appointments if the ADC won the election.
The group, however, acknowledged that the allegation had not been independently established by a court or supported by a publicly documented agreement.
The former allies argued that political loyalty could not be treated as a permanent debt, saying El-Rufai had the right to make political choices and that his former associates had the same right.
“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 rejected the suggestion that El-Rufai single-handedly created the political structures that produced his electoral victories 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.
It cited Saidu as one of those involved in the political structure before El-Rufai’s emergence and who later served as a commissioner and Chief of Staff in his administration.
The group said its latest realignment was not motivated by hatred or revenge.
“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 allies said they had accepted Sani’s reconciliation initiative and returned to the APC, adding that their political structures and grassroots supporters across the state would be part of 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.
Recall that El-Rufai has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission since February 18, 2026, in connection with an ongoing investigation.
His continued detention has attracted public attention, with opposition figures and other political actors calling for his release and questioning the circumstances surrounding his prolonged detention.
