Eric Patrick
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has declared that President Bola Tinubu has no realistic path to re-election in 2027, saying Nigerians have lost faith in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leadership.
Speaking in a video shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, El-Rufai, now a key figure in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said:
“Anyone who thinks Bola Tinubu can be re-elected in 2027 is living in another country. It’s impossible.”
He blamed growing public dissatisfaction with the APC and its economic policies for the decline in support, warning that even the weakest opposition could unseat Tinubu.
“I don’t see a pathway for him. Nigerians are tired of the APC. They’re unhappy with the policies of this administration.”
El-Rufai also downplayed the significance of recent defections to the ruling party, describing them as opportunistic moves by self-serving politicians or individuals seeking protection from anti-corruption probes.
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“It’s greedy and desperate politicians—those after money, contracts, appointments, or shielding themselves from EFCC and ICPC—that are defecting,” he said.
The former FCT Minister stressed that the SDP and a growing coalition of political groups are focused on grassroots mobilisation rather than chasing political elites.
“For us, 2027 will be a battle between the APC and Nigerians.”
El-Rufai, once a staunch supporter of Tinubu’s 2023 presidential bid, has since distanced himself from the administration. He is now aligned with prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in a coalition aiming to unseat the president through the ballot.