Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Sunday, visited former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and cleric Pastor Tunde Bakare in Lagos.
Photographs of the meeting quickly circulated on social media, sparking discussions about the purpose of the visit. Although the details of their discussions were not disclosed, speculation is rife that El-Rufai is strengthening his political network ahead of the 2027 general elections.
El-Rufai, who has been increasingly vocal in his criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu, recently accused Tinubu of orchestrating his removal from the list of ministerial nominees.
His grievances with the administration were further highlighted in a controversial Arise TV interview, where he suggested that the APC had sidelined him.
The former governor’s visit comes shortly after he met with former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, further fueling speculation about his political future.
When asked about El-Rufai’s meeting with Aregbesola and Bakare, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, downplayed its significance:
“We don’t have any comment. Anybody who wants to worry about his movements is free. So far he is a Nigerian, El-Rufai is free to visit anybody he likes. We have more serious work to do than to comment on anybody roaming around.”
Similarly, APC National Deputy Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, dismissed political interpretations of the visit, emphasizing freedom of association.
“There is no restriction with respect to that. So I don’t think any meaning should be read into his recent visits other than a meeting of friends. At the end of the day, if it leads to something beyond that, we then need to make demands.” Duru stated.
With El-Rufai’s increasing engagements outside the APC, many are now watching closely to see whether he will remain in the party or forge a new political path before 2027.
