I’ll Never Forgive APC Even If My Father Does — El-Rufai’s Son
Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has vowed not to forgive the All Progressives Congress (APC) over what he described as attacks against his family.
Bashir said his position would not change even if his father eventually overcomes his ongoing legal challenges and decides to forgive those he considers responsible for the family’s troubles.
In a series of posts on X on Saturday, Bashir said he intended to pursue political power for the purpose of confronting members of the APC whom he accused of abandoning and attacking his family when it was most vulnerable.
“Even if my father emerges from his ordeal like Gandhi and forgives and forgets, I won’t,” he wrote.
He added: “I will acquire power somehow for the sole reason of terrorising those (APC) that attacked like wolves upon my family at our weakest. Friend or foe, it won’t matter.”
Bashir, however, singled out one of his brothers, Mahmud Ribaud, saying he would not be targeted because of their biological relationship.
“Only @mahmudribadu will be spared. That one is my biological brother. Everyone else is fair game,” he stated.
The comments come against the backdrop of a growing public disagreement between Bashir and his brother, Bello El-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Bashir has repeatedly criticised Bello’s political decisions, particularly his continued membership of the APC after their father resigned from the party.
Nasir El-Rufai resigned from the APC in March 2025 before joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC), an opposition platform.
Bello remained with the APC until May 7, 2026, when he defected to the ADC and subsequently aligned politically with his father.
Bashir has accused his brother of placing political interests ahead of family loyalty. He also alleged that Bello only returned to the family fold after his relationship with Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani deteriorated.
“Stuck with Uba Sani until he realized he is being dumped then suddenly remembered family loyalty and moved to ADC. Where was he since? Purely serving his interest,” Bashir wrote.
The political relationship between El-Rufai and Sani, who were previously allies, deteriorated after Sani succeeded El-Rufai as Kaduna governor in 2023. Their disagreement has subsequently developed into a broader political dispute, with legal issues also emerging from the fallout.
Meanwhile, Nasir El-Rufai has been held in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for about 200 days in connection with an ongoing corruption case.
The former governor is being prosecuted before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations bordering on abuse of office, financial impropriety and fraud allegedly committed during his tenure as Kaduna State governor. El-Rufai has denied the allegations.
PulseNets reported that the former governor has also initiated fresh legal proceedings against the ICPC, its chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation over alleged restrictions on his access to members of his family while in custody.
El-Rufai is seeking N10 billion in damages in the suit, which was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026 and filed on August 13 by his lawyer, Ubong Akpan.
The former governor is seeking nine reliefs from the court.
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Among other demands, El-Rufai wants the Federal High Court to affirm that his fundamental rights under Part IV of the 1999 Constitution remain enforceable despite his detention.
He is also asking the court to declare that the alleged repeated denial of access to his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and his son, Abba El-Rufai, particularly for the purpose of providing food, medication and other essential necessities, amounts to a violation of his constitutional rights.
