…Peter Obi is coming – El-Rufai’s son hints
…Extra defections loom
The race to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 is gaining momentum as Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State governor, dumps the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Occasion (SDP) in what seems to be a strategic transfer to construct an opposition coalition.
El-Rufai, who has been at odds with Tinubu and the ruling social gathering since he was denied a ministerial appointment, formally introduced his departure from the social gathering on Monday.
In an announcement on his X (previously Twitter) account, he criticised the APC management, accusing them of straying from the social gathering’s founding beliefs.
“Developments within the final two years verify that those that at present management and run the APC don’t want to acknowledge, a lot much less handle, the social gathering’s unhealthy state of affairs. I’ve raised considerations in personal and, extra not too long ago, in public relating to the social gathering’s capricious trajectory. Subsequently, at this level in my political journey, I’ve come to the conclusion that I have to search one other political platform to pursue the progressive values I cherish,” El-Rufai acknowledged.
Learn additionally: Kaduna APC says El-Rufai decampment not a priority
His defection got here simply 24 hours after he met with Rauf Aregbesola, former inside minister, and Pastor Tunde Bakare, a former presidential aspirant, in Lagos, fueling speculations about political realignments forward of 2027.
The previous governor has additionally been in discussions with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was the Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP) presidential candidate in 2023. Atiku has publicly declared plans to construct a robust opposition coalition to problem Tinubu.
In a submit by way of X on Sunday, Atiku disclosed that he met with El-Rufai alongside former Adamawa state governor, Jibrilla Bindow.
“After tonight’s Itfar (breaking of quick), I obtained in viewers, former Governor of Kaduna State, @elrufai, former Governor of Adamawa, Jibrilla Bindow and Musa Halilu, Dujima Adamawa. Our strong discussions had been the dessert of the meal,” he wrote.
El-Rufai can be reportedly courting Labour Occasion’s Peter Obi, regardless of years of political rivalry. The hypothesis gained momentum after El-Rufai’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, hinted that Obi is perhaps becoming a member of the SDP.
Responding to a submit on X, the place a consumer claimed that the SDP would battle to defeat the APC with out Peter Obi, Bashir replied: “He’s coming.”
Sources point out that former Kaduna governor can be working to reconcile Atiku with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the chief of the New Nigeria Peoples Occasion (NNPP), in an try to merge opposition forces right into a formidable alliance. The coalition is anticipated to draw former governors and ex-ministers desperate to problem the APC’s dominance.
Sources instructed BusinessDay that some aggrieved chieftains of the APC like Abubakar Malami, former lawyer normal of the federation (AGF), and Abdullahi Adamu, former nationwide chairman of the APC, amongst different leaders of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which merged into the APC in 2015, might depart the APC within the coming months.
Equally, pundits say El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP could be a part of ongoing plan to type a broad alliance of opposition politicians to problem the incumbent President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Learn additionally: Why I dumped APC for SDP — El-Rufai
Extra defections anticipated
Nonetheless, analysts have predicted that many different aggrieved APC chieftains may comply with El-Rufai and depart the APC within the coming months.
“The previous Kaduna State governor’s defection is anticipated primarily based on the happenings within the APC for a while now,” Kunle Okunade, political analyst, instructed BusinessDay
“El-Rufai’s defection is a sign that the APC is just not properly managed and the state of affairs should still result in the social gathering dropping many stalwarts earlier than the third quarter of this 12 months,” he added.
Atiku, PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023 normal election, has known as for alliance of opposition events in opposition to the APC in 2027 and has been publicly seen with the previous Kaduna governor who additionally visited him over the weekend.
“What is going on now’s much like what occurred in pre-2015 normal election when aggrieved PDP members shaped a coalition with CPC, ACN, APGA and different smaller events. It’s apparent that the political system shall expertise such at this era once more,” Okunade stated.
“It is just by coalition that APC might be defeated. Something in need of that’s youngster’s play.
“And it is a harmful factor to the APC contemplating the political weight of El-rufai and the like who’re at present aggrieved within the social gathering,” Okunade added.
Talking additional, the political analyst acknowledged that the founding members of the APC are almost definitely to dump the social gathering, noting that this could take a severe toll on the APC.
Tope Musowo, political analyst and public coverage professional, predicted that there can be severe implosion within the ruling social gathering forward of 2027 owing to the present administration’s type of sidelining some people.
“That is the start of the drama. I see extra defections and implosion within the APC forward of 2027. You noticed the NEC assembly that was held, the place loads of chieftains that aren’t of their good books or these near the previous administration, had been sidelined.
“Many leaders aren’t pleased with the best way the social gathering is being run now. The president is just not carrying everybody alongside. Many are simply silent and ready for the time to depart. He would lose many leaders within the North and it might have an effect on his re-election bid,” Musowo stated.
Learn additionally: El-Rufai abandons APC for SDP
Tinubu’s camp responds
Reacting to El-Rufai’s defection, Daniel Bwala, a spokesperson for the Bola Tinubu administration, dismissed the transfer as a determined try to unseat the incumbent.
In an announcement on X, Bwala questioned El-Rufai’s political ideology, saying, “Senior, @elrufai . I learn the information right now that you just resigned from APC to hitch SDP. Nicely, I’ve nothing in opposition to you since you exercised your constitutional proper.
“Nonetheless, the MOTIVE is what we might interrogate within the coming days and remind Nigerians that you’re not a phenomenon that emerged like a clap of thunder out of a blue sky.
“We’d intellectually remind you that associating with sore losers to unseat the incumbent is just not an IDEOLOGY, neither is it PROGRESSIVISM; it’s merely an inordinate AMBITION, that’s destined to fail.”
