The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are locked in a war of words following reports that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is rallying northern political leaders against President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
El-Rufai, who was once a close ally of Tinubu, has been meeting with top politicians from the North and opposition figures, fueling speculation about possible political realignments.
El-Rufai’s Growing Political Moves
El-Rufai’s strained relationship with Tinubu became evident after he failed to secure a ministerial appointment in the current administration. Although the President nominated him for a position, the National Assembly rejected him on security grounds.
Since then, the former governor has intensified his political activities. In recent weeks, he met with Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, and other northern leaders. During a condolence visit to the family of elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark, El-Rufai praised Atiku’s role in economic reforms during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
“Nobody gives Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the credit for economic policy-making under Obasanjo’s administration,” El-Rufai said. “Many of the things we did were under his leadership.”
The visit and his growing closeness to Atiku raised eyebrows, as El-Rufai had previously accused the former vice president of corruption in his book The Accidental Servant.
On Saturday, El-Rufai held a closed-door meeting with the Kaduna State executive committee of the PDP, sparking further speculation. A day later, he visited former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, at his residence in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
APC Attacks El-Rufai
The APC has dismissed El-Rufai’s moves, accusing him of playing divisive politics. APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, criticized him for allegedly stoking ethnic tensions.
“We no longer take him seriously,” Basiru said. “He is an overrated ethnic champion who is always ready to pitch northern politicians against their southern counterparts.”
Basiru suggested that El-Rufai’s political maneuvers stem from frustration over not securing a ministerial appointment.
“The only thing we want to say is that governance is a serious matter, and nobody has the birthright to be an appointee of government. There are over 180 million Nigerians, and many are qualified,” Basiru stated.
He also defended Tinubu’s administration, claiming that the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda was already yielding positive results.
“In the past couple of weeks, the naira has strengthened against the dollar. Even fuel and food prices have started coming down,” he said.
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PDP Welcomes El-Rufai
While the APC is critical of El-Rufai, the PDP appears open to working with him. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, suggested that El-Rufai now realizes that the APC lacks respect for the rule of law.
“El-Rufai was in the PDP before, and he is now in the APC. I am sure he can make the distinction between where there is democracy and where there isn’t,” Ologunagba said.
He emphasized that the PDP remains the only party that prioritizes democracy and good governance.
“The PDP is a party of principles, and we stand by our constitution. No one individual is bigger than the party,” he said.
Ologunagba also stated that the party would work with any Nigerian willing to align with its values.
“If El-Rufai or any other Nigerian shares our vision for a better Nigeria, we are open to collaboration,” he added.
Political Realignments Ahead of 2027
With the next presidential election still two years plus away, El-Rufai’s political activities suggest that power struggles within the APC and potential alliances with opposition figures may shape Nigeria’s political landscape before 2027.
While APC leaders downplay his influence, his recent engagements indicate that he is positioning himself as a key political player in the North. Whether he remains within the APC or joins forces with the opposition remains to be seen.