El-Rufai: Opposition Coalition Doesn’t Need Governors to Unseat Tinubu in 2027

Former Kaduna Governor Outlines People-Focused Strategy

Malam Nasir El-Rufai, a key figure in Nigeria’s emerging opposition coalition, has declared that the alliance doesn’t require governors’ support to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. The former Kaduna State governor made this assertion during a media chat in Kano, emphasizing a grassroots mobilization strategy over political elite endorsements.

“We are trying to offer Nigerians a real alternative — something different from what they have seen before,” said El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Video credit to: NedMedia

PDP Governors Reject Coalition Plans

The remarks come as the PDP Governors’ Forum publicly rejected any coalition or merger ahead of 2027. This followed speculation after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s visit to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari alongside coalition members including El-Rufai.

“We are not merging with anyone. We are focused on rebuilding our party for the future,” the PDP governors declared after their Ibadan meeting.

The opposition suffered another setback when Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno publicly pledged support for Tinubu’s second term bid, followed by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s defection to the APC.

‘People Power Over Political Elites’

El-Rufai dismissed these developments as insignificant to the coalition’s prospects: “The fact that one governor from the PDP has defected means nothing. We are not counting on governors to win elections. We are counting on the people.”

The former governor cited Tinubu’s 2023 Lagos experience: “The president had a sitting governor in Lagos — and still lost Lagos. So, what is the real value of a governor?” He recalled his own failed attempt to deliver Kaduna for Tinubu despite being governor, concluding that “elections are ultimately decided by the people.”

Building the Platform Before Choosing Candidates

On potential presidential candidates like Atiku and Peter Obi, El-Rufai said discussions were premature: “Our focus now is not on selecting candidates. It is on building the platform first.” He urged aspirants to “put aside your ambitions for now” and help build a credible alternative.

The former governor emphasized national unity over regional politics: “I no longer care where the president comes from. I want a candidate who can offer real solutions to Nigeria’s problems.” He warned that Nigeria’s “existential crisis” makes 2027 about “survival, unity, and progress” rather than regional considerations.

SDP as the Chosen Platform

El-Rufai clarified that the coalition never intended to merge with the PDP, which he called “a spent force.” Instead, efforts focus on unifying opposition groups under the SDP after evaluating parties likely to survive INEC’s deregistration process.

“Forming a party is easy. Building a party — registering members, holding congresses, building leadership from the polling unit to the national level — is the real work,” he stated, emphasizing internal democracy as key to avoiding past failures.

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