Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands no chance of securing re-election in 2027.
El-Rufai, now a chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), made the remarks during an interview shared on X (formerly Twitter). He stated that anyone who believes the president could win another term is out of touch with the reality in Nigeria.
“Anybody that thinks it is possible for President Bola Tinubu to get re-elected is living in another country, not Nigeria. It is impossible for Bola Tinubu to get re-elected,” El-Rufai said.
He attributed this to widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Tinubu’s administration, despite government assurances that economic relief is forthcoming.
In contrast, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had earlier defended the administration’s efforts during an appearance on Channels Television, outlining steps taken to stabilize the economy.
However, El-Rufai insisted that Nigerians are disillusioned and that even the weakest opposition could defeat the APC in 2027.
“I don’t see a pathway for him,” El-Rufai added.
He further downplayed the significance of politicians defecting to the ruling party, saying they are mostly motivated by personal interests or fear of anti-corruption agencies.
“It is greedy and hungry politicians and those that are looking for money, contract, appointment, office that are defecting,” he said.
“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.”
According to El-Rufai, the SDP and its coalition partners are more focused on ordinary voters, not political figures seeking favours.
“We believe that the 2027 elections will be between the APC and Nigerians,” he declared.
El-Rufai, who backed Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023, has since switched allegiance to the SDP and is now part of a growing coalition aimed at unseating the president.
Other key figures in the coalition reportedly include former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
