Uba Sani denies rift with Nasir El-Rufai, reaffirming his respect for the former Kaduna governor amid detention and political tensions

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, told Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme that he had never spoken ill of his predecessor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, as questions over their relationship continued to attract attention in Kaduna State and Nigeria’s political circles.

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The governor’s remarks came as El-Rufai remained in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), following his detention in February and amid ongoing court proceedings over allegations of financial misconduct.

Sani insisted that his respect for the former governor remained intact, while distancing himself from a supporter’s reported call for El-Rufai to remain detained until after the next election.

“Honestly speaking, I have no problem with him (El-Rufai). If you listen to me carefully, I have never spoken anything bad about him, and I will never speak anything bad about him,” Sani said during the interview.

The governor also rejected any suggestion that a statement made by a political supporter represented his own position.

“The person that made that statement was speaking for himself. He was not speaking for me,” he said.

Sani declined to disclose details of any private efforts he might have made regarding El-Rufai’s situation, explaining that respect did not always require public declarations. He maintained that his approach to the former governor had been consistent since he assumed office in May 2023.

“As a matter of respect, many things I’ve done to show my respect for him, my regard for him, I don’t think I should come out and say it,” Sani said.

The comments offer a measured response to a relationship that has become a recurring subject of political debate since the two men, once close allies, began to drift apart.

El-Rufai governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and supported Sani’s bid to succeed him. Before becoming governor, Sani served as a senator representing Kaduna Central and held advisory roles during El-Rufai’s political career.

Their alliance was therefore rooted in years of shared political work, making subsequent disagreements particularly significant for the state’s political landscape.

Tensions became more visible after Sani took office, particularly over the financial legacy of the previous administration.

In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly initiated a probe into allegations involving the former administration’s finances, while Sani’s government raised concerns about the state’s debt and liabilities.

El-Rufai and his associates subsequently criticised aspects of the new administration, deepening public speculation about the relationship between the two camps.

El-Rufai publicly questioned the closeness of the relationship in August 2025, saying that Sani had never been his friend, even as he acknowledged the political history between them. The remarks added to perceptions of a widening divide between the former governor and his successor.

Sani’s latest comments, however, focused on his stated preference for respect and consultation rather than public exchanges.

He cited his continued engagement with former Kaduna governors, including Ahmed Makarfi, whom he said he consulted on road construction projects.

The governor referred specifically to the road linking Soba and Zaria, explaining that discussions with Makarfi had helped inform his approach to the project.

Sani also said he had consulted former Vice-President Namadi Sambo on a project design, including the design of the Government House.

“When you are sitting as a governor, you don’t have a monopoly of wisdom. The way to succeed is to be humble and listen to people who advise you,” he said.

The remarks provided a glimpse into how Sani says he approaches governance, presenting consultation with former officeholders as a source of practical guidance rather than a sign of political weakness.

They also shifted attention towards the responsibilities of public office at a time when political disagreements have frequently overshadowed policy discussions in Kaduna.

El-Rufai’s legal situation remains a separate but closely watched dimension of the controversy. On 13 October 2026, Channels Television reported that the former governor appeared before the Kaduna State High Court for the continuation of his trial over alleged financial misconduct.

The appearance followed a Court of Appeal decision dismissing his challenge to the refusal of bail. The allegations remain subject to judicial determination, and El-Rufai has denied wrongdoing.

The legal proceedings have intensified public debate about the relationship between political accountability and the rights of individuals facing criminal allegations.

They have also provided a backdrop for competing political claims about responsibility for El-Rufai’s predicament, including accusations from opposition figures that Sani bears responsibility.

Such claims remain allegations and should not be treated as established facts.

Sani did not directly address the merits of the legal proceedings during the reported interview. Instead, he emphasised that he had not publicly disowned his previous statements about El-Rufai and insisted that his position had remained consistent.

For Kaduna residents, the distinction between personal relationships and the business of government remains important.

The state continues to face development needs that require sustained attention, while disagreements among its political leaders can influence public confidence and the wider political climate ahead of the 2027 elections.

Sani’s latest intervention may help clarify his public position, but it does not resolve the underlying questions surrounding his relationship with El-Rufai.

Whether the two men can move beyond their differences remains uncertain.

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For now, the governor has made his message clear: he says he has never spoken ill of his predecessor and does not intend to do so, even as the political and legal circumstances surrounding El-Rufai continue to evolve.

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