Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has said he believes he could be arrested at any moment by the Federal Government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

El-Rufai, now a leading figure in the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the statement during an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday.

He alleged that the ruling party was mounting pressure on politicians to either defect to the APC or remain loyal to it, claiming that dissenting voices were being targeted.

The former governor, who has recently intensified his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the APC — the party under which he served two terms as governor of Kaduna State — said several of his former associates had already been detained.

“Four people we worked with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” El-Rufai said.

His remarks come amid the arrest and ongoing trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, developments that have further heightened political tensions in the country.

There has been no official response from the Federal Government or the APC regarding El-Rufai’s claims as of the time of filing this report.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, as the new Chairman of the party’s 2026 National Convention Central Coordination Committee, in a fresh reshuffle of the committee’s leadership.

In the adjustment, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who was earlier named chairman, has been reassigned to serve as Treasurer of the committee.

The development was announced on Friday, February 6, 2026, through an official list released by the ruling party.

According to the APC, the changes were made in line with “zoning exigencies,” prompting a reconfiguration of both the leadership and membership of the committee.

As part of the reorganisation, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim was appointed Vice Chairman I, while Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, was named Vice Chairman II.

Meanwhile, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, retained his position as Secretary of the committee.

The APC also expanded the committee’s membership from 73 to 90 members, a move aimed at accommodating more party leaders ahead of the 2026 national convention.

The adjustments are seen as part of the party’s strategic preparations to ensure broad representation and smooth coordination of its upcoming national convention.

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, is poised to officially defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, in what is shaping up to be one of the most significant political realignments in Nigeria’s South-South region since 2023.

According to Party sources, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC governors, and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) are expected to be on hand to formally receive the Bayelsa governor into the ruling party during a high-profile ceremony.

Information has it that Diri, who resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15, has been in discreet negotiations with key APC figures to finalize his move. The talks, described as “strategic and delicate,” reportedly centered on ensuring a smooth integration of Diri’s political bloc into the APC’s structure in Bayelsa State.

A senior APC insider revealed that the delay in announcing the defection was deliberate, designed to “ensure seamless alignment and prevent internal friction within the state chapter,” particularly as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Political observers see Diri’s defection as a major coup for the APC, marking a significant expansion of its influence in the oil-rich South-South, a region that has historically remained a stronghold of the PDP.

The governor’s move also underscores President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to consolidate political dominance nationwide, with several former opposition leaders recently defecting to the ruling party.

With Diri’s entry, analysts say the political landscape in Bayelsa — and the broader Niger Delta — could experience a dramatic shift, potentially reshaping alliances and strategies ahead of the next election cycle.