El-Rufai Uncertain About Supporting Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election Bid

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has expressed uncertainty about whether he will support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Additionally, he revealed that he is unsure if he will still be a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by 2027.

Speaking on Prime Time with ARISE TV on Monday, El-Rufai stated:

“I don’t know if I will support Tinubu in 2027. I will evaluate the situation at the time and consult widely.”

Reflecting on his support for Tinubu in 2023, El-Rufai explained that his backing was a strategic political decision by the APC leadership in Kaduna:

“We succeeded in ensuring that power shifted to the South, knowing that northern candidates like Yahaya Bello and Ahmed Lawan stood no chance. Among the southern contenders, Tinubu was seen as the most viable option. He was not my friend, but he had the best chance of winning.”

When asked whether he would support another southern candidate in 2027, El-Rufai responded:

“I’m now a private citizen. I’m not sure I’ll still be in the APC in 2027, so I cannot answer that question. I won’t have the same influence I had in 2023 as a sitting governor.”

He further stated that any future political decisions would be based on consultations with his political allies and APC leaders in Kaduna.