Abuja, Nigeria – Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally rejected his ministerial nomination, refuting claims that his disqualification was due to security concerns raised by the National Assembly.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and once a close ally of President Tinubu, said that despite Tinubu’s initial public plea for him to join the administration, the president ultimately changed his mind about his appointment.
El-Rufai, who was widely expected to lead power sector reforms under Tinubu, emphasized that his exclusion was a deliberate decision by the president, not a National Assembly rejection.
“Since I left office, the President publicly begged me to serve in his government. I initially had no interest and told him so. But after two months of negotiations, we agreed on my nomination as a minister under certain conditions.”
“Along the line, either the President changed his mind or something else happened. Please don’t believe the story that the National Assembly rejected me. The National Assembly had nothing to do with this. The President didn’t want me in his cabinet. He changed his mind. Whatever it is, I don’t care—I’ve moved on.”
“Since I moved on, I have not commented on the government or granted any interviews. But as a founding member of the APC, I have the right to ask why the party isn’t functioning.”
El-Rufai’s Growing Criticism of Tinubu’s Administration
Once regarded as one of Tinubu’s closest allies, El-Rufai has recently been vocal in his criticism of the administration, questioning its policy direction and governance strategy. His fallout with the president has fueled speculation about deepening cracks within the APC.
El-Rufai remains a key power broker in Northern Nigeria, and his dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s leadership has sparked discussions about internal party struggles ahead of the 2027 elections.
He was expected to oversee Nigeria’s power sector reforms, but his nomination was reportedly blocked in the Senate, allegedly due to security clearance issues. However, his latest remarks suggest that Tinubu himself pulled the plug on his appointment.
El-Rufai’s public critique of the APC’s dysfunction raises questions about the party’s stability and whether internal divisions could weaken Tinubu’s presidency.
With El-Rufai breaking his silence, many are questioning whether he is positioning himself for a future political move or if his criticisms signal a broader rift within the APC. His influence in Northern Nigeria and his history of political maneuvering suggest that his political ambitions may not be over.
Will El-Rufai remain in the APC, or is a major political realignment on the horizon? The coming months will reveal whether his strained relationship with Tinubu leads to a new political strategy ahead of 2027.
Read Also: El-Rufai defends criticism of Tinubu administration
Read Also: El-Rufai slams Reno Omokri over ministerial appointment comments
Read Also: : Economic Reforms or Public Confusion? The True State of Nigeria’s Fuel Subsidy Under Tinubu
