In the lead-up to the 2027 general elections, former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has made it clear that he is open to the possibility of receiving the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ticket.
El-Rufai, a key figure in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently left the party after falling out with President Bola Tinubu’s government.
In a recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service, El-Rufai expressed his hope to bring together key opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, to create a robust opposition to the APC.…CONTINUE READING
He emphasized the importance of forming a strong coalition, although not necessarily merging into a single political party.
Despite his departure from APC, El-Rufai stated that his primary goal is to create a vibrant opposition to challenge the ruling party in 2027. He acknowledged the contributions of leaders like Atiku and Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential elections under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) respectively, and called for unity among them within the SDP framework.
While El-Rufai denied leaving APC to run for the presidency himself, he acknowledged that if members of the SDP requested him to run, he might consider it. Reflecting on his past support for Tinubu, El-Rufai admitted to feeling deceived by the president but maintained that he did not regret backing his candidacy in 2023.
El-Rufai’s comments highlight the evolving political dynamics as opposition parties gear up for the upcoming elections, with a focus on creating a united front to challenge APC’s dominance.
