Ndume, who served as Director-General of Amaechi’s presidential campaign, made the statement during an interview on Arise News on Tuesday

By Titilope Adako

Senator Ali Ndume says former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai’s fallout with President Bola Tinubu is a form of “payback” for the way he abandoned ex-Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi during the 2023 presidential race.

Ndume, who served as Director-General of Amaechi’s presidential campaign, made the statement during an interview on Arise News on Tuesday.

He recalled that El-Rufai initially backed Amaechi and even pledged his support during a consultation visit to Kaduna but switched allegiance after Tinubu visited.

“El-Rufai was supposed to be on our side but somehow, he moved over. I think these are part of the things that are frustrating him,” Ndume said.

He added that El-Rufai was instrumental in mobilising support for Tinubu during the primaries and that the President had encouraged him to join the government.

“Tinubu asked him to come on board, to join the government. But till now, I don’t understand what happened between them that’s not my business,” Ndume noted.

He continued, “But sometimes I think, ‘You did that to us, and now it’s payback.’ I was the Chief Whip when El-Rufai came to the chamber for screening. We almost told him to take a bow and go…”

Ndume’s remarks come amid ongoing speculation about the strained relationship between El-Rufai and the Tinubu administration.

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