Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has asserted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has successfully infiltrated the opposition parties, sponsoring factions to cause division among party stakeholders.

This, according to him, is why the opposition leaders are in the process of establishing a new political party in anticipation of the 2027 general election.

All Facts News reports that during an interview on Arise TV on Monday, El-Rufai stated that the initiative to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) serves as a strategic alternative to utilising an existing party as the coalition’s platform to contest against President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming elections.

El-Rufai emphasised that the leaders of the coalition have opted to pursue both avenues: registering a new party and seeking to adopt an existing one, to fulfil their objectives ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said, “You don’t go to war with just one plan. Very early in our discussions, coalition leaders agreed we would pursue both options—identify an existing party that suits us all and simultaneously explore registering a new one,” he said in an interview with Arise TV on Monday night.

“A brand-new party doesn’t come with legacy issues or infiltrations. What this government has done is inject ‘viruses’ into opposition parties—financing factions and creating internal crises. That’s what is happening in the Labour Party, PDP, and NNPP. So, many leaders believe the best way to avoid that is to start afresh.”

El-Rufai articulated that the choice to pursue the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) was specifically aimed at removing President Tinubu from office in 2027. He also conveyed his regret for having supported Tinubu during the 2023 election.

Having recently transitioned his political support from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), El-Rufai criticised the Tinubu administration for its failures in critical areas such as security and the economy.

He reminisced about being one of Tinubu’s most ardent supporters leading up to the 2023 election, particularly when the topic of zoning between the North and South caused friction within the APC.

All Facts News recalls that following Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, El-Rufai was put forward for a position in the federal cabinet; however, the Senate refused to confirm his appointment, allegedly due to a negative security assessment from the Department of State Services (DSS).

Afterwards, he joined the SDP and pledged to collaborate with others to remove Tinubu from power. Last week, El-Rufai, together with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures, submitted an application to register the All Democratic Alliance as a new political entity.

During the interview, El-Rufai asserted that President Tinubu should not be permitted to serve a second term.