ADC Primaries Crisis Deepens As El-Rufai Loyalists Feel Betrayed, Abandoned

A deepening crisis is rocking the Kaduna State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as loyalists of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai accuse him of abandoning the political structure that stood solidly behind him for years.

What began as disagreements over the party’s governorship and legislative primaries has now escalated into a major internal revolt, with aggrieved members of the El-Rufai camp alleging that their loyalty, sacrifices, and political risks were traded away through backdoor negotiations and proxy arrangements.

The crisis worsened after Isa Ashiru Kudan emerged as the ADC governorship candidate in a process that has been strongly disputed by several aspirants and party stakeholders.

One of the leading governorship aspirants, Ja’afaru Sani, widely regarded as a close ally of El-Rufai, openly rejected the outcome of the primary, describing the exercise as fraudulent and warning that he could dump the party if justice was not done.

His rejection triggered wider protests among legislative aspirants and political loyalists within the former governor’s camp. A coalition led by Samaila Makarfi subsequently denounced the primaries as a “sham,” alleging widespread irregularities, manipulation, and deliberate attempts to sideline certain interests within the party.

Beyond the disputed results, however, many aggrieved members say the real issue is a growing feeling that El-Rufai quietly withdrew support from allies who defended him politically, legally, and personally during some of his most difficult moments.

Several party members now accuse the former governor of sacrificing the interests of his loyalists through political proxies while allegedly failing to protect key allies currently facing political and legal troubles.

Sources within the faction said many supporters now feel politically abandoned, insisting that individuals who risked their reputation, freedom, and resources in loyalty to El-Rufai have been left exposed.

The resentment appears particularly strong over the cases involving Ja’afaru Sani, who is reportedly under investigation by anti-graft agencies, and former Chief of Staff Bashir Saidu, who is currently being held at the Kaduna Correctional Facility.

According to insiders, many within the camp had expected El-Rufai to stand firmly behind such loyalists. Instead, they now believe political calculations and personal interests took priority over loyalty and collective struggle.

The bitterness deepened further following allegations that political emissaries linked to El-Rufai quietly influenced the governorship process in favour of Isa Ashiru despite public claims of neutrality.

Although El-Rufai’s wife, Asiya El-Rufai, reportedly met with some aspirants to assure them that her husband was not backing any candidate, the move failed to calm tensions within the camp.

Many loyalists insist the message of neutrality contradicted political realities on the ground, arguing that the eventual outcome reflected a carefully negotiated arrangement that sidelined longstanding allies.

Some stakeholders have also accused the former governor of focusing more attention on the political future of his son, Bello El-Rufai, while core loyalists who helped build and defend his political structure were allegedly left without support or protection.

The internal divisions have been further worsened by El-Rufai’s inability to directly manage the growing crisis due to his ongoing detention by the ICPC, a situation many believe has created a leadership vacuum now being exploited by competing interests and proxy power blocs.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna ADC leadership remains sharply divided. Prior to the primaries, the party publicly disowned an alleged unauthorized “ADC Transition Committee” meeting linked to El-Rufai associates , an event that reportedly degenerated into violence and gunfire and is currently under police investigation.

With governorship and legislative aspirants rejecting the primaries, accusations of betrayal dominating internal discussions, and trust within the El-Rufai camp rapidly eroding, political observers warn that the Kaduna ADC may be heading toward a major split ahead of the 2027 general elections.