Immediate-past governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has denied the rumour insinuating that he has pitched his political tent with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any other political party as fake news.
El-Rufai also threatened legal action against those he called peddlers of fake news.
The former governor, who stated this on his verified X handle, also asked the public to disregard the report.
“Please disregard the patent lies and rumours about my political affiliation. I have referred the lead peddlers of the fake news for further action by my lawyers,” the former Kaduna Governor said.
An aide to the former governor who did not want his mention printed, in a telephone interview earlier, described the rumoured defection of El-Rufai to any political party as false and pure handiwork of mischief makers.
The aide said, “It is the handwork of mischief makers. I don’t want to talk about the social media post by the mischief-maker, but the report is false. The former governor did not join PDP or any other party.”
The report further claimed that the former governor had collected PDP membership card from Ungwan Sarki in Kaduna North local government area.
Recall that El-Rufai has been sparking defection rumours since failing to be included in Tinubu’s cabinet after being screened out on security reason by the senate.
In March 2024, El- Rufai visited the National Secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja where he met the party’s national chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam. Days later, he had another meeting at the Abuja residence of Senator Abubakar Gada, a chieftain of the SDP, and other party leaders.
Present at the meet were Senator Teslim Folarin, the APC gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State in the 2023 general elections, and Senator Nazif Suleiman, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Bauchi State, as well as Alhaji Aminu DanAgundi, a political heavyweight and kingmaker in Kano State.
In April, he publicly stated that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government was spending more on petrol subsidies than previous administrations.
Also in June, El-Rufai hosted Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, at his Abuja residence.
This meeting followed his visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State.
Political analysts believe El-Rufai’s moves may be part of a broader strategy by some northern politicians to challenge President Tinubu in the next election.