Former Kaduna Governor El-Rufai Asserts Tinubu Has Lost Nigeria's Trust and Cannot Return in 2027

 

El-Rufai Rules Out Tinubu’s Re-election, Says Nigerians Are Done With APC

A fresh political storm is brewing as former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has come out forcefully against President Bola Tinubu’s chances of re-election in 2027. Speaking in an explosive interview shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, El-Rufai labeled the idea of a second term for President Tinubu as “impossible,” arguing that anyone who believes otherwise must be out of touch with the prevailing mood in Nigeria.

El-Rufai, now a prominent figure in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), issued a scathing assessment of the current political climate. He contended that the Nigerian electorate has grown disillusioned with both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Tinubu administration. According to him, there has been a steep decline in public trust, which makes a second term for the president highly unlikely.

“Anybody that thinks it is possible for President Bola Tinubu to get re-elected is living in another country, not Nigeria,” El-Rufai stated. “It is impossible for Bola Tinubu to get re-elected.” His words were blunt and left little room for interpretation.

The former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister stressed that even a disorganized or weak opposition could easily defeat the APC in 2027. The current state of discontent, he suggested, would ensure that voters rally against the ruling party. “I don’t see a pathway for him,” he declared, referring to President Tinubu.

El-Rufai went further to discredit the recent defections to the APC, dismissing them as insignificant. He described the defectors as opportunists chasing personal gains, rather than individuals with any meaningful political influence or genuine support from the people. “It is greedy and hungry politicians and those that are looking for money, contract, appointment, office that are defecting,” he said with evident disdain.

He also drew attention to another category of defectors, suggesting that some were motivated by fear of prosecution. “The other class of those defecting are those that know that the EFCC or ICPC can intimidate them, because they know what they have done if they have done what is not quite right,” he noted, hinting at the use of anti-corruption agencies as political tools.

The former governor emphasized that the focus of his party and its growing coalition was not on politicians switching sides, but rather on the Nigerian people. He explained that the emerging political alliance, which includes key figures from different regions and political backgrounds, is building a grassroots movement intended to mobilize the electorate directly. “We believe that the 2027 elections will be between the APC and Nigerians,” he added.

Once a staunch supporter of President Tinubu during the 2023 elections, El-Rufai has now taken an opposing stance, signaling a dramatic shift in Nigeria’s political landscape. His alignment with the SDP and involvement in efforts to construct a multi-party coalition suggest that the coming general election could be a fierce and unpredictable battle.

Among those reportedly involved in this new coalition are prominent names such as former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Together with El-Rufai, these seasoned politicians aim to mount a formidable challenge to Tinubu and the APC machinery in the next electoral cycle.

This latest development is bound to intensify political discourse across the nation, especially as it comes from someone who once played a critical role in shaping the APC’s trajectory. El-Rufai’s sharp rhetoric and strategic repositioning underscore a growing divide among Nigeria’s political elites, a divide that could reshape the country’s future leadership.

As 2027 approaches, the question no longer revolves around whether the opposition will unite, but whether they can successfully channel the widespread discontent into tangible electoral victory. El-Rufai believes they can. The coming months will reveal if Nigerians agree.