The Presidency and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday clashed again over allegation that the Federal Government is behind the internal crises and litany of litigations rocking the opposition parties in the country.

El-Rufai made the claim when he visited the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party in Abuja.

A video of his meeting with the party leadership has since gone viral on social media platforms.

The embattled former governor also vented his frustration at the confusion and inactivity of the opposition camp.

He said, “The crisis they are facing in the Labour Party is contrived and funded by the government of the day. Everyone knows it.

“Jumping from one court to the other is all designed to distract the party leadership from focusing on their core functions.

“The same thing is happening in the PDP, even the NNPP has been targeted for destruction. There are people who have been resourced to go and cause problems in the NNPP.

“The last thing I read about the NNPP was that one faction of the party has expelled Kwankwaso and the sitting governor.

“When you see things like that, you will know it is a contrived crisis. Which party sacks a sitting governor? And that is the only governor they have. I cannot mention names because I don’t have the details.”

El-Rufai, earlier on Monday, announced his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the opposition SDP, vowing to mobilise against the APC government in 2027.

He highlighted his previous efforts to address internal issues privately and publicly, which he felt were ignored, leading to his decision to seek an alternative platform that aligns with his values.

The erstwhile APC chieftain also confirmed that he had submitted his resignation letter to the ruling party, saying that he consulted with his mentors, colleagues and supporters before joining the SDP in preparation for the 2027 general election.

Presidency slams El-Rufai

Reacting to his fresh allegation on Tuesday, the Presidency knocked El-Rufai, saying it was right to believe he jumped ship because of his inordinate ambition.

In an exclusive phone chat with The PUNCH, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, expressed concerns that the new SDP convert was doing a bad job if his latest ‘gaslighting’ was to unsettle the ruling APC government.

He said, “First, I am not aware and don’t know anything about that. Is he also saying that the Federal Government is also sponsoring a crisis in the SDP that he went to? His journey to the SDP, in summary, is dead on arrival.

“In the coming days or weeks, for you members of the press, they will give you enough material to be reported.

“Once the party is over, they will now sit and start fighting each other. They will start fighting over who becomes the candidates or representatives and start disagreeing with one another.

“So they are enjoying the first two weeks when the media will give them attention. Inordinate ambition is when people think it is only through them that change can come. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, by God’s grace, will serve two terms and after he finishes, he will give it to a new generation of younger people. We have already moved past this political recycling.”

LP denies allegation

When quizzed, the leadership of the LP denied knowledge of El-Rufai’s allegation.

In an interview with our correspondent, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, wondered why the former minister was just raising the alarm.

He said, “If the APC has a hand in an internal crisis in a political party, we in the Labour Party are not aware of it.

“We also think El-Rufai is speaking from both sides of the mouth. At a time, he was in the APC where he was hailing the party.

“Why is it now that he thinks is the best time for him to comment? I think he should face the reality and stop dragging people and parties into his personal crisis.”

APC mocks El-Rufai

The ruling APC also mocked El-Rufai, calling him and his supporters “rumour mongers.”

The National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the party, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, said they were not even shocked to hear such a claim from their former chieftain.

“El-Rufai and his SDP people are just rumour mongers. What else would they have said? But we know they are just trying to play politics. Let him enjoy his new party,” he stated.

Bafarawa denies defection

A top aide of the former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, denied his defection to the SDP.

The aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed this while speaking with our correspondent in Sokoto, on Tuesday.

He said, “We are not aware of the story (defection). We also saw it on social media. I can confirm to you that we are trying to get the person behind the post.

“His Excellency is not in the country for now, he travelled for Umrah.”

The PUNCH reports that Bafarawa, on January 13, 2024, resigned from the PDP.

In a letter of resignation he signed, and addressed to the party’s acting national chairman, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent in Sokoto, Bafarawa said his decision to leave the party was to start a new chapter of service that aligned with his vision of uplifting humanity through empowering the youth.