• You’ve lost political value in Southern Kaduna, SOKAPU tells el-Rufai
• CUPP accuses APC govt of undermining democracy

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso, has accused former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru el-Rufai, of resorting to “blackmail and lies” in an alleged bid to undermine President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement, yesterday, which was made available to journalists in Kano, Kwankwaso described el-Rufai’s approach as outdated and ineffective, warning that the same tactics used against former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 could not be replicated against Tinubu.

The APC chieftain maintained that Tinubu had made notable progress in addressing insecurity and stabilising prices of commodities, lauding National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for ongoing improvement in the security sector.

He, however, accused el-Rufai of being displeased with these gains, insisting that Nigerians could clearly see the government’s efforts. Kwankwaso further challenged the former Kaduna State governor to present evidence to support his allegations that Tinubu’s administration was sponsoring banditry and other criminal acts.

He also alleged that el-Rufai was attempting to instigate the northern region against Tinubu’s administration, but stressed that northerners were “not stupid” and could see the progress being made in Birnin Gwari, Sokoto, and Borno.

ALSO, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has alleged that el-Rufai had lost political value in Southern Kaduna, following the acts of tyranny of his eight years in office.

President of SOKAPU, Sabara Samuel Kato, in a statement yesterday, said that from his inauguration as governor, el-Rufa’i declared his hatred and disregard for Southern Kaduna on every opportunity that presented itself.

Kato, who condemned the recent comments of the former governor, said that “el-Rufai allegedly seized federal allocations of local councils in Southern Kaduna where attacks took place in the guise of repairs for damages caused during attacks,” adding that just as “he demoted Southern Kaduna traditional rulers from first class to third class, and without any consultation, changed the names/nomenclature of our chiefdoms and abolished districts leaving some chiefdoms with only one district,” said that such a political figure should have no place in the nation’s political future.

MEANWHILE, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Peter Ameh, has accused the APC-led Federal Government of undermining democracy and orchestrating a state capture.

Ameh, who spoke during an interview on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, said recent developments in Rivers State, the electoral space, and the wider political climate show a deliberate attempt to weaken opposition and manipulate institutions ahead of 2027. He said that on the political standoff in Rivers State, the Presidency had gone beyond interference.

He described the situation as a “double tragedy” for Nigeria’s democracy, alleging that courts, security agencies, and electoral bodies were increasingly being used as tools of political control. Ameh said that Peter Obi remains “the right vision” for Nigeria but warned that forces were already working to frustrate opposition movements.