El-Rufai Family Feud: Bashir Attacks Brother Bello

A family dispute involving former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir el-Rufai's sons, Bashir and Bello, became public when Bashir launched a series of attacks on Bello via social media. Bashir accused Bello of prioritizing personal political interests and remaining aligned with Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, despite their father's deteriorating relationship with Sani.

Following el-Rufai's resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in March 2025, Bello, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, initially stayed with the ruling party before defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on May 7, 2026. Bashir claimed Bello's shift to the ADC was opportunistic, occurring only after he realized Sani was no longer supportive.

The feud included personal allegations against Bello, and as of the report, neither Bello nor the el-Rufai family had publicly responded. This family conflict is set against the backdrop of Nasir el-Rufai's ongoing legal troubles, having been in custody since February 2026 for alleged financial impropriety during his governorship from 2015 to 2023.