For sometime now,the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has been having a running battle both with the Kaduna State House of Assembly over his indictment by the lawmakers ,and same for the presidency for his recent criticisms of the APC -led administration.
In this analysis, Damilola Olufemi examines the possible links between the ongoing imbroglio and the 2027 presidential race.
Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding a ₦423 billion indictment by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
The lawmakers had in 2024 accused El-Rufai’s eight years- led administration of misappropriating funds, leading to significant financial liabilities for the state.
The Assembly maintained that the indictment was based on credible evidence, and that El-Rufai’s filed lawsuit is an attempt to intimidate and silence them.
El-Rufai has since filed a lawsuit through his lawyer, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, challenging the allegations of the lawmakers, noting that the indictment was a nullity and against his fundamental human rights.
However, the question in the minds of many is: whether loyalists of President Bola Tinubu are fighting back, following claims that it may be connected to El-Rufai’s frosty relationship with the president.
It would be recalled that in June 2024, the ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to probe all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the El-Rufai-led administration presented its report to the House.
While presenting the report, the House committee chairman, Henry Zacharia, disclosed that a large part of the loans collected under El-Rufai’s administration were siphoned while others did not follow due process.
The issue has since taken a political image as many Nigerians are wondering what happens if the former governor’s lawsuit turns out in his favour and his indictment nullified. They further ask: where will be the aftermath of the alleged involvement of the presidency in the indictment issue,and what will be the implications of the crisis as regards the 2027 presidential race.?
However, El-Rufai’s supporters argue that the indictment is a politically motivated action against the former governor. They further explained that the assembly’s report was based on incomplete and inaccurate information, and that El-Rufai’s administration had actually made significant progress in addressing the state’s financial challenges.
The road to 2027
Trouble started in 2023 after the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president when the National Assembly dropped El-Rufai’s name as a ministerial nominee by the president.
El-Rufai possibly nursing the wounds of his disqualification,has lately became more critical of the Tinubu- led administration.
He also recently slammed the All Progressive Congress (APC) over its excessive centralization of power and shift from the party’s core values and principles.
However, not to be seen as being docile in his role as a presidential spokesman, Daniel Bwala fired back at the former governor, echoing that El-Rufai’s criticism wouldn’t have come if he was part of the current administration.
“My senior brother, if you were in this government and cabinet, would you have held and expressed the same position? It is a government you participated in its formation, that you now want to unseat. Haba Mallam, a Ji soron Allah mana,” the media aide posted on his X handle.
Bwala’s insinuation, implying that El-Rufai’s snide remarks were driven by personal grievances, was also corroborated by a group in Kaduna State.
The group further alleged that the former governor plans to destabilise the current administration in the state ahead of 2027 governorship and general elections.
In his response, El-Rufai said, “I have always spoken my mind, whether inside or outside government. My track record in public service speaks for itself. I have never been one to shy away from the truth, and I will not start now.”
In the same vein, a political analyst in Abuja, Mojisola Akande, while speaking to New Daily Prime, affirmed that the ongoing crisis between El-Rufai and the presidency centres on the 2027 election.
She noted that the president may not be directly involved, but was aware and could intervene as the election year draws nearer.
She added: “This is an issue known across all the states in Nigeria. So, the president surely should be aware of it However, this can be resolved in no time when the 2027 election gets closer. Every state matters and among these states is Kaduna. Though the opposition party may lure the former governor.”
Although, El-Rufai has stated that he has no plans to quit the APC.
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Prior to that assurance, in July 2024, El-Rufai had filed a petition praying that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court transfer the case handled by Justice Aikawa to another judge. Giving his reason for the request, the former governor cited in the “interest of justice and a fair hearing” in the ₦423 billion case.
More ex-officials defend El-Rufai
On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, some ex-officials of the former governor, in a statement, faulted the indictment report which claimed that the El-Rufai led administration could not account for ₦423 billion in eight years spent in office.
They added, “Only those inclined to fiction can believe that 40% of Kaduna’s earnings over eight years simply vanished,” adding that the claims was politically motivated by enemies of the past administration.
Earlier in 2024, some commissioners who served under the former governor ,also countered the report, noting that the committee set up could not provide how it arrived at the sum claimed to have been mismanaged.
“The Report begs the question as to where the Ad-hoc Committee obtained its figures for revenue, loans, and other “findings,” separate from the published accounts of the Kaduna State Government that were duly tabled before the House of Assembly as required by the Constitution,” the ex-commissioners added.
The El-Rufai saga has further called for the need for greater transparency and accountability in governance in Nigeria, as citizens deserve to know how public funds are being spent. They also deserve to have confidence in the institutions that are supposed to hold those leaders accountable.
The boiling questions remain: Will El-Rufai’s lawsuit be successful? Will the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s indictment stand?As the controversies continue to unfold, it’s clear that the stakes are high. The outcome of El-Rufai’s lawsuit and the assembly’s indictment ahead of the 2027 election, will have significant implications for Nigeria’s politics and governance.
However, one thing is certain: Nigerians are watching closely to see how this drama unfolds.
