Kaduna North Rep Bello El-Rufai firmly rejects calls to defect from APC to ADC, declaring his mandate belongs to 51,052 voters
Bello El-Rufai Slams Defection Rumours, Gives Reasons That Can Make Him Resign
Kaduna North federal lawmaker Bello El-Rufai has delivered a sharp, no-nonsense response to swirling speculation about a possible exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections, shutting down suggestions to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Reacting directly to a social media user who urged him to dump the APC, Bello made it crystal clear that online pressure holds zero sway over his political future.
He pointed to his decisive 2023 victory as proof of where his true allegiance lies:
“Bello El-Rufai wins Kaduna North Rep seat with 51,052 to defeat the PDP candidate, Samaila who polled 34,808 votes. El-Rufai’s son sets a record by being the first candidate to win all 12 wards in Kaduna North.”
Bello stressed that the mandate belongs solely to those 51,052 constituents—not keyboard warriors.
“The mandate belongs to the 51,052 people who elected me,” he asserted.
He then dropped the only condition under which he would ever consider leaving the APC:
“If Mallam asks me to leave the APC, I’ll resign the seat tonight. I can be non-Partisan. My people adore me,” he said, repeatedly referring to his father, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, as “Mallam.”
In a bold challenge to his critic, Bello upped the stakes:
“I’ll send 10 million to you tonight if you can convince the 51,052 people that have me this mandate. Do you have an app to confirm?”
While pledging unwavering respect for his father, Bello equally affirmed his loyalty to Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, whom he called his “boss.”
He recounted a recent symbolic move to underline his position: after attending a public event with his father, he immediately joined a Kaduna APC caucus meeting alongside the Speaker and Governor Sani.
Bello highlighted the doors the APC has opened for him, including high-level engagements with figures like Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Olayemi Cardoso.
On matters of political honour, he drew a firm line:
“I will never publicly go against governor and I will not plan his demise. It is called honour.”
The outspoken lawmaker’s post has effectively quashed—for now—speculation of an imminent defection, while reinforcing his dual loyalty to family legacy and the party that gave him a platform. With 2027 still on the horizon, all eyes remain on whether “Mallam” will ever issue the directive Bello says would end his APC chapter overnight. Read More
