Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has stepped up his criticism of his younger brother, Bello El-Rufai, following the lawmaker’s defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The development has added a fresh layer to the political realignment surrounding the El-Rufai family as parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bello El-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, recently left the APC and joined the ADC, becoming part of the opposition party’s growing political structure.
Bashir has publicly questioned the decision, accusing his brother of abandoning the political platform on which he was elected.
His latest criticism follows a series of exchanges between the two brothers over Bello’s political choices and the direction of the opposition ahead of 2027.
The disagreement is particularly notable because their father, Nasir El-Rufai, has also become increasingly critical of the APC administration and has aligned himself with opposition political forces.
The family’s differing political positions have consequently attracted attention as the 2027 contest gathers momentum.
Bashir’s comments are political criticisms of his brother’s decision and do not, by themselves, establish any wrongdoing by Bello.
The defection further illustrates the continuing movement of politicians away from the APC as opposition parties attempt to build structures capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in 2027.