KADUNA – Representative Bello El-Rufai, the federal lawmaker representing Kaduna North, has broken his silence on intensifying speculation regarding his future in the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that only a direct order from his father would make him dump the ruling party.
The lawmaker’s comments followed a viral social media exchange where critics pressured him to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid the ongoing friction between the APC leadership and his father, the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
In a sharp rebuttal, the younger El-Rufai reminded his detractors that his position in the National Assembly was earned through a historic mandate, not online trends. He noted that he secured 51,052 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, becoming the first representative to sweep all 12 wards in Kaduna North.
“If Mallam asks me to leave the APC, I’ll resign the seat tonight,” the lawmaker stated, emphasizing his absolute loyalty to his father’s counsel. “I can be non-partisan. My people adore me.”
Taking the online confrontation further, Bello challenged a critic to a ₦10 million wager, daring the individual to convince his 51,052 constituents to withdraw their support. “I’ll send 10 million to you tonight if you can convince the people that gave me this mandate. Do you have an app to confirm?” he queried.
Despite the high-profile investigation currently facing his father at the EFCC, Bello reaffirmed his professional loyalty to Governor Uba Sani, whom he described as his “boss.” He dismissed any suggestions of internal sabotage, stating he remains committed to the current Kaduna State administration while his APC membership remains tied to his father’s guidance.
The statement has sparked fresh debate within the Kaduna APC, as political watchers monitor whether the “Mallam” will indeed give the order for a family-wide exit from the party ahead of the 2027 cycle.
