Former allies Japheth Omojuwa and Bashir El-Rufai engaged in a heated social media clash following the defection of Bashir’s father, Nasir El-Rufai, from APC to SDP. The feud escalated with accusations, personal insults, and an iPad giveaway, highlighting shifting political loyalties and tensions within Nigeria’s political circles.
The political fallout between Japheth Omojuwa and Bashir El-Rufai has erupted into a heated exchange on social media, following the defection of Bashir’s father, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Omojuwa, a well-known political commentator and former ally of the El-Rufai family, had long supported the former governor. However, with El-Rufai’s departure from APC, Omojuwa shifted allegiance to Governor Uba Sani, a move that seemingly angered Bashir.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Bashir threw shade at Omojuwa, implying that his family had once gifted him an iPad when he sought their support. Without directly naming him, Bashir tweeted:
"I knew we should never have dashed this individual an iPad when he used to wait at our gatehouse desperately seeking an audience. Now we have created a hypocritical and duplicitous monster."
Omojuwa swiftly responded, sarcastically announcing an iPad giveaway for his followers while taking shots at Bashir’s character.
"I will be donating 8 iPads to 8 of my followers. Can you guess why 8 iPads? Lol... It’s a gift. You don’t owe me for a gift you never asked for."
The feud quickly escalated, with both men trading personal insults. Bashir questioned Omojuwa’s integrity, while Omojuwa dismissed Bashir as an inconsequential political figure.
This online spat has drawn significant attention, highlighting the shifting political loyalties within Nigeria’s political circles. Meanwhile, social media users have been divided, with some supporting Omojuwa’s stance, while others criticized him for allegedly betraying a former ally.
As the drama unfolds, political observers note that this feud reflects deeper tensions within the APC, particularly regarding El-Rufai’s move to the SDP and its broader implications for the party’s power dynamics.
