TD A fresh political dispute has emerged between Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, member of the House of Representatives for Kaduna North Federal Constituency, and former presidential media aide Bashir Ahmad.
The dispute centered around an alleged private conversation concerning President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
El-Rufai reportedly accused Ahmad of privately expressing concerns about the economic and living conditions under the Tinubu administration.
According to El-Rufai, however, he is publicly supporting the President’s 2027 re-election bid.
The allegation has, however, been strongly denied by Ahmad, who said he could not remember having any such conversation with El-Rufai.
El-Rufai Questions the Position of Ahmad
The controversy followed a Facebook post attributed to Bello El-Rufai in which he reportedly referred to an alleged conversation with Ahmad.
According to reports, El-Rufai suggested that Ahmad had complained privately about conditions under the Tinubu administration while publicly campaigning for the President’s return in 2027.
The allegation has attracted attention because Ahmad has openly advocated support for Tinubu among voters in the North.
On September 24, Ahmad said the Northwest would be a consequential region in the 2027 presidential election, citing more than 23.8 million registered voters in the zone.
He also said, based on his observation, that the region remained a major centre of support for Tinubu, with supporters organising across the seven states.
Ahmad Denies Complaining About Tinubu
Ahmad subsequently rejected El-Rufai’s account.
In a statement reported on October 1, Ahmad said he was surprised by the Facebook publication.
He claimed he could not remember ever discussing Tinubu’s administration, the 2027 elections or related matters with El-Rufai:
“For the avoidance of doubt, I did not complain to Bello about anything concerning the President or his administration.”
Ahmad also reaffirmed his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his support for Tinubu’s re-election.
He said he did not believe in anti-party activities.
He insisted he would remain committed to supporting the President for as long as he remained an APC member and supports the administration’s direction.
Ahmad further challenged El-Rufai to identify the specific conversation or statement upon which the allegation was based and provide it in its proper context.
Disputed Private Conversation
The central issue remains whether the alleged private conversation between the two men occurred and, if it did, what Ahmad actually said.
Reports reviewed by This Dawn News have not established an independently verified recording or transcript of the alleged conversation.
Consequently, the allegation that Ahmad privately criticised Tinubu’s government remains disputed, rather than an established fact.
Ahmad has expressly denied making such complaints.
Ahmad’s Public Support for Tinubu
The public position of Ahmad on the 2027 election is documented.
In his September 24 statement on the Northwest, he described the region as electorally significant and said it remained a major support base for Tinubu.
He said supporters of the President across the seven Northwest states were organising and mobilising ahead of the election.
His latest response to El-Rufai therefore reiterates a position he has publicly maintained: support for Tinubu and the APC ahead of the 2027 election.
Political Dispute Ahead of 2027
The exchange illustrates the increasingly intense political debate surrounding the Tinubu administration as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
While El-Rufai’s reported allegation raises questions about the consistency between private and public political positions, Ahmad has rejected the allegation and maintained that he supports Tinubu.
For now, the competing accounts have not been independently reconciled.
Bello’s Independence Day Message
The dispute was followed an Independence Day message on October 1 issued by Bello El-Rufai.
In the statement, he offered a critical assessment of Nigeria’s current socioeconomic and security conditions.
El-Rufai said that although Nigeria had enormous potential and resilient citizens, millions of Nigerians were facing insecurity, unemployment and rising living costs.
He said families were struggling to afford food and basic necessities while parents remained concerned about the safety and future of their children.
He also drew attention to children abducted from communities in Borno State, saying their continued captivity underscored the country’s security challenges.
Ahmad: ‘Resilience Should Never Become an Excuse for Government Failure’
El-Rufai called for greater urgency from the Federal Government, particularly on security, the cost of living, employment opportunities and institutional accountability.
One of the strongest passages in his Independence Day statement was his assertion that:
“Resilience should never become an excuse for government failure.”
He called on the Federal Government to match what he described as the sacrifices of Nigerians with concrete action.
Among the priorities he listed were securing communities, bringing abducted children home and reducing the burden of the cost of living.
He also demanded creating opportunities for young people, strengthening institutions and protecting citizens’ rights and dignity.
El-Rufai’s recent public statements have similarly focused on security and accountability.
In September, he called for an immediate operational priority to rescue children reported abducted in Borno.
Meanwhile, he also called for a thorough and independent investigation into the deaths of people in government custody in Niger State.
This Dawn News will continue to distinguish between publicly documented statements and disputed claims as the controversy develops.
