KADUNA, Nigeria — In a major political milestone following his high-profile defection from the ruling party, the Chairman of the House Committee on Banking Regulations, Representative Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, has emerged as the official consensus candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Kaduna North Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The incumbent lawmaker secured the legislative ticket unopposed during the party’s primary election in Kaduna on Saturday, May 30, 2026, amassing a total affirmation vote of 7,727 from accredited party delegates.
Okay News reports that El-Rufai’s victory followed a critical internal alignment within the Kaduna state chapter of the ADC, which saw three prominent foundation aspirants step down their ambitions to pave the way for a unified front.
In an official statement signed immediately after the exercise, El-Rufai expressed immense gratitude to the party’s leadership, delegates, and the three key local political figures who yielded the platform to him: Hon. Nazifi Jibo, President of the Kaduna Golf Club and two-time state commissioner; Hon. Salihu Abubakar, a veteran community mobilizer and close ally of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai; and Hon. Yazeed Atta, a British-educated grassroots organizer noted for his civic development frameworks in the Kabala district.
Addressing rumors of state-sponsored interference aimed at splitting the opposition party’s structure, the federal lawmaker maintained a firm, unyielding tone regarding his legislative track record. He emphasized that his campaign would rely on intensive door-to-door mobilization throughout the nooks and crannies of Kaduna North, while reinforcing a shared commitment with party leaders to bring purposeful, inclusive representation and measurable development to the constituency.
