The “El-Rufai Camp” has made a definitive break from the ruling APC, moving toward the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their primary vehicle for the 2027 elections.
Jafaru Sani is a key loyalist who served as Commissioner for Local Government, Education, and Environment under Nasir El-Rufai has officially declared his intention to run for the Kaduna governorship under the ADC banner as of May 14, 2026.
This move follows the footsteps of Nasir El-Rufai himself, who formally joined the ADC in November 2025 after a brief stint with the SDP. El-Rufai has been vocal about replicating the “2015 formula,” aiming to build a formidable opposition coalition to challenge the current administration.
The realignment is fueled by a deepening rift between El-Rufai and his successor, Governor Uba Sani. The “El-Rufai Camp” has faced significant pressure, including the brief arrest of Jafaru Sani in early 2025 following his initial exit from the APC, which allies labeled as political persecution.
Jafaru Sani is not alone; several other former commissioners and appointees have followed the former governor into the ADC. This has effectively turned the ADC into the “shadow cabinet” of Kaduna politics, positioning it as the main challenger to the APC in the state.
​By backing a seasoned administrator like Jafaru Sani, the El-Rufai camp is betting on “governance experience” to win back the state. It essentially transforms the next election into a referendum on El-Rufai’s legacy versus Uba Sani’s current leadership.
The ADC, which was previously a peripheral player in Kaduna, is now a heavyweight contender overnight due to this concentrated influx of the El-Rufai political machinery.
