The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused former Governor Nasir El-Rufai of waging an “imaginary political war,” insisting that he is the architect of his own misfortunes.

In a statement signed by the party’s State Working Committee Chairman, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jakada (retd.), and Secretary, Yahaya Baba-Pate, on Tuesday, the APC dismissed claims that El-Rufai was being targeted politically, asserting that his past misdeeds and political errors were now haunting him.

“Malam Nasir El-Rufai has sworn to get even with his perceived political enemies in Kaduna State, and he is busy fighting imaginary wars,” Jakada stated.

“We want to state without any equivocation that nobody is after him in Kaduna State. He is the architect of his political misfortune. His litany of past misdeeds and unforced errors is haunting him. He will remain an outcast in significant parties because of his past misdeeds and legendary propensity for mischief and betrayal,” he added.

The APC also took a swipe at the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which recently welcomed El-Rufai into its fold, predicting that his presence in the party would lead to its downfall.

“It will not take long before he throws a cat among the pigeons in SDP. By accommodating El-Rufai, the SDP has sown the seed of its own destruction,” Jakada declared.

Jakada further reiterated the APC’s commitment to democracy, rule of law, and inclusive governance, dismissing claims that the party was rattled by El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP.

“The APC-led administration in Kaduna State has been creating a conducive atmosphere for all parties to thrive in the state. It is a known fact that Governor Uba Sani runs an all-inclusive, people-centred, and pro-poor administration. The APC will not be distracted by the vituperations of political non-starters who have demystified themselves by pushing their luck too far,” he stated.

“They had ample opportunity to etch their names in gold, but they recklessly blew it. Rather than desperately searching for whom to pull down, they should engage in soul-searching and atone for their past misdeeds. In so doing, they will have peace,” he added.

The APC also dismissed the SDP’s allegations linking the arrest of Ja’afaru Sani, a former commissioner under El-Rufai’s administration, to political persecution by the ruling party.

“For days now, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), an insignificant party in Kaduna State, has been all over the place making bogus claims about its electoral strength and desperately trying to link Hon. Ja’afaru Sani’s brush with the law to the APC,” Jakada said.

“Since the entry of the angry, agitated, and frustrated Mal. Nasir El-Rufai into their fold, the SDP has been clutching at straws, making wild allegations and crying wolf, all in a bid to draw public sympathy and gain undeserved support for the party, which has been in existence for long without any impact in Kaduna State,” he added.

The Kaduna APC dismissed El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP as inconsequential, asserting that his political influence had significantly waned.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored their mischief, but for members of the public who may be misled into believing their tales by moonlight. They claimed that APC is worried by the defection of Nasir El-Rufai and Ja’afaru Sani to the SDP. They further stated that, on account of their defections, the APC has perfected plans to suppress opposition figures in order to instil fear in political circles. Nothing can be further from the truth,” Jakada said.

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He noted that the APC had recently welcomed high-profile defectors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), including serving lawmakers, into its fold, making El-Rufai’s move to the SDP insignificant.

“With our party reaching the state of near saturation, why should we bother about individuals who are running from pillar to post in search of political relevance?” Jakada asked.

“Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s much-publicized defection to the SDP has proved to be a non-event. Driven by his exaggerated sense of self-importance and relevance, he took a dive into political oblivion,” he added.

According to Jakada, El-Rufai’s defection lacked substance, as no key political figures followed him to the SDP.

“No person of substance or political relevance followed him to the SDP, except a few of his cronies. This is for understandable reasons. People are aware that Nasir El-Rufai’s motivation for leaving APC is self-interest. He is eager to extract a political ‘pound of flesh’ from those he holds responsible for his descent into the political wilderness. He consulted no one but himself,” he stated.

The Kaduna APC maintained that it remained focused on governance and would not be distracted by what it described as the antics of political actors seeking relevance.