Former commissioners, political appointees and grassroots associates of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have stated reasons why they parted ways with him.

The former allies, under Kaduna De-Initiative, said they supported El-Rufai because they believed in a political project, not because they surrendered their political identities, structures and followers to him.

They insisted that they were political partners, not political property, and therefore retained the right to determine their own political future.

The position was signed by former Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Mukthar Isa Hazo, and former Kaduna State SDP Chairman and four-time House of Assembly member for Ungwan Sanusi Constituency, Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi Maikano.

They said members of the group, including former commissioners Ja’afaru Sani, Dr. Shehu Usman Makarfi, Bashir Saidu and Senator Abdu Kwari, had made significant contributions to the political structures that supported El-Rufai, alongside numerous grassroots politicians across Kaduna State.

The group said it was therefore unfair to describe their departure as betrayal, stressing that political relationships were not permanent and that alliances could change when circumstances, interests and objectives changed.

“Are we not adults who can take our own political decisions?” the group quoted Bashir Saidu as asking, saying the same freedom that allowed them to support El-Rufai in the past should allow them to make different choices today.

It said the political relationship became increasingly strained after El-Rufai’s 2019 re-election, when, according to its account, former allies felt increasingly marginalised while members of the former governor’s family were perceived to be exercising growing influence in government affairs.

The group stressed that it did not question El-Rufai’s right to rely on family members or trusted associates, but said its concern was what it described as the consequent weakening of the wider political structure and the growing sense among former allies that their political relevance was diminishing.

It said the disagreement later became more pronounced after El-Rufai left office, particularly over the 2027 political realignment and the ADC governorship primary, where Ja’afaru Sani was regarded by their camp as a preferred successor.

According to the group, El-Rufai instead backed Isa Ashiru, his former political rival, who defeated Sani in the ADC direct primary with 86,113 votes to 29,580. Sani rejected the outcome and alleged irregularities in the process.

The former allies also alleged that the support for Ashiru was linked to an arrangement designed to retain El-Rufai’s influence over a possible ADC administration, including alleged plans to appoint two of his wives. They expressly acknowledged that the allegation had not been independently established by a court or formally documented in a public agreement.

The group said the development reinforced its belief that the political interests of former allies were no longer aligned with those of El-Rufai, adding that the central question was whether Kaduna’s political future should be shaped by the interests of the people who built political structures or by the interests of a few individuals.

It challenged El-Rufai’s supporters to examine not only why people left his political camp but also what happened to the relationships that made them leave. According to the group, repeated political departures deserved examination rather than automatic accusations of betrayal.

It argued that El-Rufai’s own political journey demonstrated that political alliances could change, saying he had worked with different political actors and formations and had subsequently found himself on opposite sides of political battles with some of them.

“If El-Rufai could make political choices based on his assessment of circumstances and interests, why should his former associates be denied that same right?” the group asked.

The former allies said their decision to move away from El-Rufai was not driven by hatred or political revenge, but by a desire to take responsibility for their political future and that of their supporters. They said Governor Uba Sani’s reconciliation initiative provided an opportunity to return to the APC and work for Kaduna’s future.

They maintained that they were not interested in a personal war with El-Rufai and acknowledged his right to make his own political choices, but insisted that the same principle applied to them.

“We are not making this argument out of bitterness,” the group said. “We have chosen reconciliation. We have chosen to return to the APC. We have chosen to move forward,” adding that their political destiny belonged to them and the people who had entrusted them with their confidence.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Benue State, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, has pledged that if elected in 2027, his administration will work with the private sector to create at least 100,000 jobs annually for young people across the state.

Aondoakaa also promised to tackle political thuggery by expanding economic opportunities for young people, saying his government would provide financial support through cooperatives, entrepreneurship schemes and other empowerment initiatives designed to enable youths to become gainfully self-employed and financially independent.

He made the commitments while addressing commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders, who turned out at the weekend to welcome him back to Makurdi from Abuja, where he had undertaken political engagements.

The riders converged at the Agan Toll Gate and accompanied the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice into Makurdi in a long procession.

The movement continued through parts of the state capital and culminated in a carnival-like gathering at Aondoakaa’s residence along George Akume Way, where the riders expressed their support for his 2027 governorship bid.

Addressing the gathering, Aondoakaa said the energy of Benue youths should be channelled towards productive ventures rather than political violence and thuggery.

According to him, young people need jobs, access to capital and opportunities to develop sustainable businesses rather than being recruited and used as instruments of political intimidation.

He said an administration led by him would encourage the formation of viable cooperatives through which young entrepreneurs, artisans, commercial motorcycle operators, farmers and other groups could access financial support to establish or expand their businesses.

Aondoakaa further pledged that his government would deliberately partner with the private sector through agriculture, agro-processing, MSMEs, construction, manufacturing, technology, services to stimulate investment and employment opportunities, with a target of creating not fewer than 100,000 jobs every year.

The PDP candidate also spoke against what he described as the development of personality cults around political office holders.

He said he would not permit supporters to adopt the slogan “No Aondoakaa, No Benue”, insisting that Benue State belongs to its people and is greater than any individual occupying the office of governor.

Aondoakaa said leadership should be about service to the people rather than elevating an individual above the state or its people.

The former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice’s campaign has continued to emphasize security, agriculture, jobs and enterprise, education, healthcare and accountable governance as major areas of focus ahead of the 2027 election.

Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has said the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu has forced him out of farming business.

Atiku declared that said he would end insecurity in Nigeria within one year of assuming office if elected in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking in a recent interview with BBC Hausa, Atiku, who discussed a wide range of issues, said he would adopt measures that would end insecurity within one year of his administration.

“I will not take more than one year to end it. We will recruit additional security personnel and provide them with the necessary equipment. We will also provide adequate funding to support youths to establish businesses because many of them are involved in criminal activities due to lack of employment. We will take these measures and, within a year, we will end insecurity, God willing.”

Atiku said he would also engage leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to revive the Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) and strengthen regional military cooperation to tackle insecurity across member countries.

He said Nigeria and Niger Republic had long-standing ties and that the military junta in Niger should not affect the bilateral relations between the two countries.

“We will engage our colleagues and ECOWAS leaders because I believe that if we unite, we can revive ECOMOG and create greater synergy among the military forces of member countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Liberia, to ensure peace.

“We will join forces, strengthen collaboration and work together to restore peace. Now, they have overtaken us in terms of democracy.

“I see no reason why Nigeria should cease its bilateral relations with Niger Republic simply because of the military takeover. What have we got to do with it? Nigeria and Niger are one. We are the same people. The fact that the military has taken over the government in Niger should not be a reason for Nigeria to cut ties with the country or support its exclusion from ECOWAS.

“I will work to bring Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali back into ECOWAS so that we can have a united front. This will also help to reduce unemployment across the countries.”

Asked if he is optimistic about the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections, Atiku expressed skepticism about the possibility.

He, however, urged the electorate to come out en masse to exercise their franchise and ensure that their votes count.

“INEC will not do the right thing because it is this government that brought them. But what I want to tell Nigerians is that they should come out and vote. They should ensure that their votes count, protect their votes and make sure that the person they vote for is the person who is eventually declared the winner.”

Speaking further, the presidential candidate said the 2027 election would be his last attempt at running for the presidency, adding that he would remain available to advise young politicians if the election did not go his way.

Commenting on his pledge to restore the fuel subsidy, Atiku said it was unwise to remove it all at once, adding that his administration would carefully assess the situation and consult all relevant stakeholders before making a decision.

“In my 79 years (and approaching 80 no), I have never experienced a level of hardship that Nigerians are currently experiencing. I don’t need to consult with anyone before pledging that I will restore the subsidy. I have seen the situation of the people.”

He accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of removing the subsidy all at once and in a manner he said had jolted many Nigerians, saying the impact had also forced him out of his farming business.