Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has announced his full backing for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office. This decision comes despite his father’s recent defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after parting ways with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Bello El-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North in the House of Representatives, made his position clear during the APC National Summit held in Abuja. At the event, Tinubu was confirmed as the party’s only candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
This development has stirred political conversations, especially considering the public rift within the El-Rufai family. Nasir El-Rufai, once a strong figure in the APC, exited the party in March 2025. He said the APC had strayed from its original ideals and no longer aligned with his values. Since joining the SDP, he has been vocal about his mission to bring opposition parties together in order to challenge the APC in the upcoming election.
The younger El-Rufai, however, has taken a different route. His presence at the APC summit and his alignment with Tinubu signals a deep divide within one of northern Nigeria’s most influential political families.
The political rift didn’t start today. In 2024, Bashir El-Rufai, another son of the former governor, openly criticized Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani. Bashir posted on social media that both leaders would lose in the 2027 elections. He also stated that the probe into his father’s administration—concerning the alleged mismanagement of N423 billion—was driven by political motives.
Reacting to the divide, political commentator Reno Omokri questioned Nasir El-Rufai’s ability to lead a successful opposition. He tweeted, “If El-Rufai can’t convince his son to leave Tinubu, how will he convince Nigerians?”
