KANO — Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has declared that the political coalition he recently joined does not require the backing of state governors to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during a media chat with journalists in Kano on Monday, El-Rufai—who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP)—expressed confidence in the coalition’s strategy, which focuses on grassroots engagement rather than elite endorsements.
“We are trying to offer Nigerians a real alternative — something different from what they have seen before,” he stated. “A governor has only one vote. Nigerians have many more votes than one governor or even 36 governors combined.”
His remarks come amid tensions within opposition circles, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum recently dismissed any talks of coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 elections. The forum’s decision followed a closed-door meeting in Ibadan, where party leaders distanced themselves from a proposed opposition alliance. This development followed a high-profile meeting between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, which fueled speculation about cross-party collaboration.
Despite the PDP’s stance and recent defections—most notably Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Vice President Atiku’s 2023 running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, to the APC—El-Rufai remains undeterred.
“The fact that one governor from the PDP has defected means nothing,” he said. “We are not counting on governors to win elections. We are counting on the people.”
Citing the 2023 general elections, El-Rufai recalled how President Tinubu lost Lagos State despite backing from the state’s sitting governor. “If the people of Nigeria say they are not with you, it is over,” he emphasized.
According to El-Rufai, the new coalition aims to break away from the dominant APC and PDP blocs, both of which he described as “spent forces” dogged by internal crises. He underscored the coalition’s commitment to creating a fresh political movement rooted in people-oriented governance and internal democracy.
“This is not about North or South anymore. It is about survival, unity, and progress. Whoever can deliver that — wherever they come from — will have my support,” he said.
He also clarified that the coalition is not focused on selecting a presidential candidate just yet. “Our focus now is not on selecting candidates. It is on building the platform first,” he added, urging interested aspirants to shelve their ambitions temporarily and contribute to the groundwork.
El-Rufai reiterated the coalition’s vision of uniting like-minded individuals across party lines to inspire real change. “We are not looking at political parties that are already ravaged by internal conflicts. We are building something fresh, something that will inspire hope.”
He concluded by stressing the coalition’s dedication to internal democracy and inclusivity. “What destroyed previous parties in Nigeria is a lack of internal democracy and the stranglehold of godfathers. We want to eliminate that,” he said.
The former governor’s remarks signal a bold step toward a potentially disruptive political movement ahead of 2027, one that seeks to bypass traditional power structures and tap directly into the will of the Nigerian people.
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