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WATCH: El-Rufai Calls Akpabio ‘Scumbag, Asiwaju Lapdog’ Over Electoral Act Amendments
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has launched a scathing attack on Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of frustrating efforts to secure electronic transmission of election results and describing him as a “scumbag” and an “Asiwaju lapdog.”
Speaking on TrustTV on Wednesday, El-Rufai alleged that Akpabio is acting in the interest of President Bola Tinubu rather than the legislature or the Nigerian people.
“And Akpabio is nothing but an Asiwaju lapdog. That’s what’s going on,” El-Rufai said. “And the senators will have to come together and protest and prevent that from happening when they reconvene.”
‘I Do Not Consider Him Distinguished’
When the interviewer cautioned him over his choice of words, noting that Akpio might object to being described as such, El-Rufai refused to back down.
“I do not consider him distinguished. We’ve known each other since the 90s. He knows how far we’ve been through. And I think I’m qualified to call him a scumbag and he knows why,” he said.
The former governor expressed confidence that the National Assembly conference committee would restore provisions for real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units. He also predicted that the majority of senators would outvote their presiding officer on the matter.
Veto Override Prediction
Pressed on whether the President would assent to a bill containing provisions opposed by the ruling party, El-Rufai acknowledged the possibility of a veto but expressed confidence lawmakers would override it.
“If the president withholds assent, it will come back to the National Assembly for them to exercise their two-thirds override. I think that will happen because the voice of Nigerians is very loud,” he said.
He argued that lawmakers would act in their own political interest. “For their own self-preservation, they must preserve this provision for the real-time transmission of results from the polling unit. It’s for their survival. It’s for the survival of this democracy.”
Election Season Calculus
When reminded of the National Assembly’s swift passage of the national anthem change and the contentious tax reform bills, El-Rufai said the political dynamics have shifted.
“Because we’re in election season,” he said. “Two years ago, they can change the national anthem in five minutes. Last year, they can play games with the tax reform bills. But now they know that 2026 is here preparing for elections.”
He added, “Nigerians are watching and Nigerians are angry and Nigerians will punish them if they go the way that Akpabio and Tinubu want.”