EL-RUFAI DEFENDS NEW PARTY PLAN, ALLEGES GOVERNMENT INFILTRATION OF OPPOSITION

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has defended the emerging opposition coalition’s decision to register a new political party rather than merge with an existing one, citing sabotage risks allegedly orchestrated by the ruling APC and the federal government.
El-Rufai revealed that opposition leaders were deliberately pursuing a two-pronged strategy — exploring both the takeover of an existing party and the creation of a new platform — to challenge the APC in the 2027 general elections.
“The ruling party has injected ‘viruses’ into opposition parties,” El-Rufai said, referencing the crises in PDP, LP, and NNPP. “The least risky option is to start afresh with a new party free of legacy problems.”
He also cast doubt on the independence of INEC under its current leadership, contrasting it with the conditions that allowed the APC’s registration under Jonathan and former INEC chairman Attahiru Jega. Despite this, he urged coalition leaders to proceed with the registration process to expose possible government obstruction.
“There is no queue system for party registration — only constitutional requirements. If they’re met, INEC must register the party,” he asserted, signaling the coalition’s readiness to fight on both legal and political fronts.