By Andrew Haruna
Former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has declared his readiness to woo former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi into the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in a bid to form a formidable opposition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
El-Rufai made this revelation during an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Service (BBC), which was monitored in Bauchi.
“My biggest wish and prayer is to see Atiku, Obi, Amaechi, and Aregbesola join SDP so that we can form a powerful coalition of opposition leaders, not necessarily to merge into one political party,” he said.
El-Rufai’s Exit from APC and Rift with Tinubu
El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, recently dumped the party for SDP after falling out with President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He played a pivotal role in securing Tinubu’s emergence as the APC presidential candidate in 2023, but his exclusion from the current government led to his disenchantment.
El-Rufai has openly criticized Tinubu’s policies, accusing them of worsening the hardship faced by Nigerians.
Atiku and Obi as Key Opposition Figures
Atiku and Obi, both of whom contested and lost the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) respectively, remain major opposition figures.
With El-Rufai’s latest move, political analysts speculate that the SDP could emerge as a stronger opposition force if these political heavyweights join its ranks.
El-Rufai Denies Presidential Ambition—For Now
Despite his defection, El-Rufai denied moving to SDP to contest for the presidency in 2027. However, he admitted that if party members urge him to vie for the office, he might consider it.
“I don’t know. I’m not the one who will say I’m going to contest. It’s a party, and members of that party will call you and tell you to contest for this or that position,” he stated.
El-Rufai recalled how he was persuaded to run for governor of Kaduna State by influential figures, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, despite his initial reluctance.
As Nigeria’s political landscape continues to evolve, the 2027 elections are shaping up to be a fierce battle, with El-Rufai’s political maneuvers potentially altering the balance of power.