Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is making moves that could shake up the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections. The former Federal Capital Territory Minister has been engaging with opposition figures and northern leaders, sparking reactions from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, accused El-Rufai of pushing an ethnic agenda, allegedly due to his failed attempt to secure a ministerial appointment in President Bola Tinubu’s government. Despite being nominated, the National Assembly rejected his appointment on security grounds, a decision that reportedly created a rift between him and the president.
Recently, El-Rufai has been seen alongside key opposition figures, including the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar. The former governor joined Atiku on a condolence visit to Niger Delta elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark.
During the visit, El-Rufai praised Atiku for his role in economic reforms under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying, “Nobody gives Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the credit for economic policy-making under Obasanjo’s administration. Many of the things we did were under his leadership.
“Maybe because we don’t write about it, and people don’t read history, we tend to forget. We only remember negative things. Maybe, it’s part of human nature,” El-Rufai said.
Beyond public appearances, El-Rufai has been holding private meetings with influential political figures. On Saturday, he met with the Kaduna State executive committee of the PDP, a move that fueled speculations about a possible realignment. He was accompanied by his former Chief of Staff, Bashir Saidu.
Just a day later, he visited former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu at his residence in Keffi, Nasarawa State. The visit was publicized by an X user and El-Rufai supporter, @UI_Wakili, who posted, “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, accompanied by Mallam Bashir Saidu and Dujima Adamawa, paid a visit to former APC Chairman Abdullahi Adamu today at his residence in Keffi.”
Adamu, who resigned as APC chairman in July 2023, is believed to have his own grievances with the Tinubu administration. El-Rufai’s meeting with him only adds to the growing uncertainty about the former governor’s political future.
El-Rufai has also been vocal in his criticism of the APC, questioning its internal democracy. He recently shared a social media post warning that Tinubu could face the same fate as former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2027 elections.
The post, which he shared on his verified X account, stated, “Less than two years into the tenure, we are witnesses to how the relationship between the North and President Bola Tinubu or rather his administration is quickly deteriorating, driven by the words and conduct of, unfortunately, many from the president’s geopolitical zone and tribe. Truth be told.
“I have read and heard the arrogant posturing and braggadocio by some people whom I refer to as political rabble-rousers, but I get more worried each day as it keeps looking more and more like a movie we had seen before.
“May I remind some persons that, more than the performance or lack thereof of the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration, it was his attitude, and that of people around him, towards the North that ultimately brought him down and, by extension, the PDP that had boasted that it would rule Nigeria for 60 years.”
Responding to El-Rufai’s recent activities, APC’s Basiru dismissed his influence, stating that the party was not concerned about his political moves.
He said, “I have told you before and am still telling you again that we are concerned about our affairs in the APC. For parties in Nigeria, it is free exit and free entry. So anybody is free to exit if he wants to exit. But we will not dignify such moves with any comment for now.
“We understand that sectional politics is what makes some people tick. Unfortunately, he (El-Rufai) is not thinking about the development of the country but is stoking up the ethnic nationality agenda. This South versus North posture shows that all along, he has been overrated as a person.”
Hinting at El-Rufai’s grievance, Basiru noted, “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 more than 180 million Nigerians and quite a number of them are qualified.
“So, if you don’t have an opportunity to serve in a government, it does not mean that you should be going around and trying to become an emergency activist. As I said before, politics is a free exit and free entry. The APC is solid and we are forging ahead.”
The party chief claimed Nigerians had started seeing the results of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.
“In the past couple of weeks, you can confirm that the naira is firming up against the dollar. Even fuel as well as the prices of foodstuff in the market have gone down,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the PDP has signaled openness to working with El-Rufai. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that any Nigerian willing to align with the PDP’s policies and respect for the rule of law would be welcomed. “Indeed, the interests of Nigerians should be the overriding priority. Nigerians know better now, and with all due respect to El-Rufai, he knows better,” Ologunagba said.
