Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not remain in power indefinitely, noting that political power in Nigeria remains open to competition.
El-Rufai made the remarks while speaking at the 23rd Daily Trust Dialogue themed, “Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: What Is Working and What Is Not,” where he reflected on Nigeria’s democratic journey.
According to him, Nigeria stands out on the African continent because no single political party permanently controls power. “Nigeria does not have a permanent ruling party, and that is an achievement,” El-Rufai said, recalling that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governed the country for 16 years before losing power. “The PDP governed for 16 years. The APC will not govern forever. It is likely that in 2027, the APC will be gone,” he added.
He said the contestability of power distinguishes Nigeria from dominant-party systems elsewhere in Africa but warned that competition has yet to deliver accountability and good governance. “Power therefore remains contestable. This distinguishes Nigeria from dominant party systems elsewhere on the continent,” he said, adding that “competition has not yet matured into accountability and good governance,” while describing political parties as largely “personality-driven and transactional.” El-Rufai spoke from Brussels, Belgium, where he said he was recovering from illness and apologized for his absence from the Abuja event.