Both the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, rejected attempts by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to rally opposition figures with the goal of unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

They accused El-Rufai of being driven by “an inordinate ambition that is destined to fail” following his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Also on Monday, the APC dismissed El-Rufai’s plan to mobilize opposition forces against Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, stating that it would not yield any significant results.

Earlier on Monday, El-Rufai declared his defection from the APC to the opposition SDP and pledged to mobilize efforts against the APC government in the 2027 election.

“I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and by-elections,” El-Rufai remarked.

He cited irreconcilable differences with the APC leadership and expressed his disappointment in the ruling party, claiming that over the past two years, it had deviated from its progressive principles.

El-Rufai pointed to his past attempts to address internal party issues both privately and publicly, which he felt had been disregarded, leading to his decision to seek an alternative platform that better aligns with his values.

In a resignation letter submitted to his ward in Kaduna State and shared on his X account, El-Rufai stated, “As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress, I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC.

“Since 2013, I have hoped that my personal values and those of the APC will continue to align until I choose to retire from politics.

“Developments in the last two years confirm that those who currently control and run the APC do not desire to acknowledge, much less address, the party’s unhealthy situation.

“I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the party’s capricious trajectory.

“Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform to pursue the progressive values I cherish.

“Founders rightly feel attached towards institutions they helped create, but one must be pragmatic enough to admit when a divergence appears unbridgeable.”

It added, “I have diligently served the APC and made my contributions to its viability as a political platform, but I recognize that the party has since strayed and left me stuck in the vision of its well-meaning founding fathers and mothers.

“As a loyal party man, I worked to help secure the APC’s election victories in 2015, 2019 and 2023. I was one of the many governors elected on the party’s platform in 2015 and 2019 that stood for certain democratic and progressive principles to advance nation-building.”

El-Rufai confirmed he had submitted his resignation letter to the ruling party and further explained that after consulting with his mentors, colleagues and supporters, he decided to join the SDP in preparation for the 2027 general election.

“Without prejudice to this decision, as a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027 by the grace of God,” he said.

Presidency tackles ex-gov

The Presidency, however, said El-Rufai’s switch to the SDP was a flawed move if he intended to unseat the governing party.

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, stated that while El-Rufai has the constitutional right to change parties, his motives will be closely examined in the coming days.

Bwala, in a post on his verified X handle, @DanielBwala, downplayed El-Rufai’s political significance in politics, arguing that his relevance was neither sudden nor extraordinary.

He criticised the former governor’s decision to side with opposition figures, saying that attempting to unseat the incumbent government was not necessarily an ideological change.

Bwala wrote, “Senior, @elrufai, I read the news today that you resigned from APC to join SDP. Well, I have nothing against you because you exercised your constitutional right.

“However, the motive is what we would interrogate in the coming days and remind Nigerians that you are not a phenomenon that emerges like a clap of thunder out of a blue sky.

“We would intellectually remind you that associating with sore losers to unseat the incumbent is not an ideology, neither is it progressivism; It is simply an inordinate ambition that is destined to fail.”

In its reaction, the Kaduna APC said it was not worried by El-Rufai’s exit from the party, describing it as political gyration.

Speaking to journalists in Kaduna on Monday, the Kaduna APC Secretary, Yahaya Baba-Pate, said the party remained focused on securing the state for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.

Pate expressed confidence in the party’s growing strength in the state, pointing to the influx of prominent politicians into the party.

He assured APC members that El-Rufai’s departure would not impact the party’s prospects.

Pate said, “We are unperturbed by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to another party. Our main focus in Kaduna is on how to deliver the state to both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.

“The APC in Kaduna State is growing day by day, judging from the calibre of politicians streaming into the party daily.

“So, we are not disturbed by anybody defecting to another party based on our governor’s inclusive governance in the state.

“We are not disturbed and we are not going to lose our sleep over El-Rufai’s moves. The party in the state is growing more than before.”

The former Federal Capital Territory minister had been associating with the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and other opposition political figures of late.

At a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, held in Abuja in January, El-Rufai asked the opposition parties in the country to unite to face the APC.

Also at the event were Atiku, a former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; representative of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, among others.

El-Rufai, after the conference, granted an interview on Arise TV, where he blasted the leadership of the party for derailing from the vision of the founding fathers.

He criticised the National Executive Council and the Board of Trustees of the ruling party for failing to convene meetings throughout last year.

After the interview, he visited the national chairman of the SDP, Musa Garbam and the leadership of the Kaduna State chapter of the PDP.

He skipped a meeting of the APC national caucus and National Executive Council held last month in Abuja, claiming he did not get the invite.

The former Kaduna governor met with former President Muhammadu Buhari at the weekend, followed by a trip to Lagos to meet with former Osun State governor and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and the founder of the Citadel Global Community Church and former APC presidential aspirant, Pastor Tunde Bakare.

While the specifics of El-Rufai’s discussions with the two figures were not disclosed, the visits were believed to be part of his political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general election.

He rounded off his activities for Sunday with the breaking of fast at Atiku’s residence in Abuja.

Less than 24 hours after their meeting on Sunday evening, Atiku and El-Rufai were again seen together on Monday afternoon at the burial of a classmate of the former vice president, Prof Kharisu Chukkol, at the National Mosque, Abuja.

Posting the photo on his X handle, Atiku wrote, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. With total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, I joined others at the funeral prayer of my classmate, Prof Kharisu Chukkol, at the National Mosque, Abuja.

“May his family be comforted. I pray that Allah will forgive his sins and grant him Jannatul Firdaus. Amin. -AA.”

Sani carpets ex-gov

A former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, poohed-poohed El-Rufai’s move to the SDP, saying it would not alter the political landscape of the state.

Sani, who represented the Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, noted that El-Rufai’s political relevance and influence had waned.

“Leaving APC for SDP wouldn’t make any difference for someone with no political relevance again,” he declared.

Sani also expressed the assurance that both Tinubu and Sani would secure re-election in 2027.

“But one thing is sure, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani will be voted again,” he said.

Defection premature – Lukman

The former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the APC and a key strategist in the ongoing proposed coalition among opposition parties, Salihu Lukman, bemoaned the defection of El-Rufai to the SDP.

Lukman, a loyalist of the ex-governor, said the defection was too premature and was not the kind of collective move they earlier projected.

The former Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum disclosed this in an interview with some selected journalists in Abuja.

He said, “Yes, I am close to Mallam El-Rufai to the extent that we come from the same state and were in the same party.

“I had the privilege of being nominated by him to serve on the National Working Committee of the APC. Of course, as everybody knows, we have our own disagreements.

“It (defection) is expected. Even after the interview he granted on Arise TV, you can see the handwriting. However, I expected that he should have been a bit patient for us to walk out as a group, based on the ongoing negotiation.

“But he knows better, and I do hope his decision is not going to become like a kind of breakaway from whatever we are doing. I hope that in the end, we should be able to reconcile and work together under one platform.”

When asked if his camp and some key northern elites would join El-Rufai in the SDP, Lukman expressed reservations about the leadership of the opposition party.

The former APC chieftain, however, noted that they might take their chances if certain conditions were met.

He stated, “The challenge is whether SDP will submit itself to some of the conditions that we believe are necessary.

“Frankly speaking, unlike most conventional politicians, most conventional politicians who just want a platform where they will present candidates and use it to win elections, there are a few of us who believe the issue is beyond that.

“What Nigerians need is a platform that will promote political competition in the country. If you remember, the challenge Nigerians had with the PDP was the problem of imposition of candidates.

“When the APC came and promised ‘change’, the expectation was that we would change the culture of imposition.

“Unfortunately, we have failed in that. In fact, it has become worse. If things continue as they are, you can predict that President Tinubu will become the candidate of APC, and you can predict all the first-time governors of APC will emerge as the candidate of APC, whether they are popular in their states or not.”

He added, “You can also predict all legislators at federal and state levels, whether they have performed or not, will return. So long as they are in the good books of Asiwaju and the party leadership, they will be returned.

“So, we may move if the SDP meets the conditions I have highlighted. We are in discussion, no doubt about it. If they meet it tomorrow, fine.”

PDP, Utomi-led NCFront disagree

While the Pat Utomi-led National Consultative Front embraced El-Rufai’s return to the opposition, describing him as a strong and influential figure in the proposed mega coalition, the PDP referred to his defection to the SDP as a mistake.

In its response, the Pat Utomi-led National Consultative Front welcomed El-Rufai back to the opposition, describing him as a powerful and influential figure in the planned mega coalition.

NCFront’s Director-General, Olawale Okunniyi, praised El-Rufai’s coalition-building experience—particularly his role in establishing the APC—as a valuable asset in the ongoing talks to create a political alliance to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.

Speaking to The PUNCH, Okunniyi highlighted El-Rufai’s negotiation skills, his experience as a former governor, and his strong political support in the northern region as crucial to the opposition’s strategy.

While noting that the SDP was one of the platforms being considered, Okunniyi mentioned that discussions on the coalition’s chosen platform were still ongoing and should be concluded by July.

He stated, “El-Rufai, coming from the North and being a former governor who previously collaborated with General Muhammadu Buhari, is a significant force. He cannot be underestimated.

“He has successfully built coalitions before, facilitated high-level discussions, and played a vital role in promoting an alternative political platform. His experience makes him a formidable and influential force.

“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is once again welcomed back to the fold of the opposition in Nigeria, just as he was embraced into the Congress for Progressive Change in 2012/2013 during the formation of the APC.

“It appears that he and others within the APC are working to establish their opposition platform, enabling them to actively engage in the ongoing consultations and discussions aimed at creating a mega coalition party to challenge the ruling party.”

Okunniyi also disclosed that a national political summit for opposition stakeholders was planned for July, where a final decision on the coalition’s platform would be made.

He, however, said the decision would be made through a bottom-up approach, ensuring the selected party reflected the interests of all involved stakeholders.

“Discussions regarding the opposition platform for the 2027 elections have reached an advanced stage.

“El-Rufai and his allies must strategically align themselves with a credible opposition platform to effectively participate in the ongoing consultations and negotiations.

“They cannot claim to represent the APC in these opposition engagements,” he explained.

He further noted that a mega-platform of opposition stakeholders was expected to emerge in the coming months, based on extensive consultations and a consensus-building process.

“One certainty is that whichever platform is ultimately chosen must undergo rebranding and restructuring to accommodate the diverse interests involved in these negotiations,” he said.

Okunniyi added that while forming a new political party remains an option—provided the Independent National Electoral Commission does not pose an obstacle—existing opposition parties such as the Labour Party, SDP, PDP, African Democratic Congress, and New Nigeria People’s Party could also be adopted.

The PDP National Deputy Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, however, referred to El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP as a mistake.

Osadolor, in an interview with The PUNCH, pointed out that a strong politician like El-Rufai should have joined the PDP, which he called the most powerful opposition party in Nigeria.

He stated, “El-Rufai’s defection from the APC further confirms the issues within the ruling party. He is a critical stakeholder in Northwest politics.

“He is a great strategist and a valuable asset that any strong political party would want to have. However, I believe he made a mistake by joining the SDP.

“The PDP platform remains the most credible and viable opposition party in Nigeria, with all the necessary reach to challenge the APC.”

The SDP presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Adewole Adebayo, welcomed the former Kaduna State governor to the party.

Writing on his verified X handle, @Pres_Adebayo, he said: “On behalf of the teeming members of the SDP and patriotic democrats who believe in Nigeria and her promise of inevitable greatness, I heartily welcome my dear brother El-Rufai to our party.

“With the hardworking and sagacious Mallam joining our ranks, an avid worker for the people has been enlisted in our forces against poverty and insecurity.

“Now is the time for us to put our collective shoulders behind the efforts to fulfil Chapter 2 of the Constitution and rescue Nigerians from bad governance and underdevelopment to restore #HopeAgain 2027 to the suffering masses callously left behind in the locust years of the APC and its co-traveller PDP.”

He emphasised that all genuine democrats and true nationalists who believed in order, decency and honesty were welcome to the SDP, “where we are governed by law, not men, the constitution not constipation of money or personal ambition.”

Adebayo added, “Together, following the law, the constitution and the manifesto of our party, we can set a good example of clean and ethical politics to emulate and rally Nigeria to the forefront of the liberation of Africa and peoples of the Black World.

“Good politics begets good governance. Let no one sit on the fence any further. There is no time to waste. Join us on the March again. God bless Nigeria.”

Credit: The Punch