Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has declared that the emerging coalition of opposition forces does not require the backing of state governors to successfully challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. Speaking during a media interaction with journalists in Kano on Monday, El-Rufai, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), emphasized that the coalition’s strength lies in direct voter engagement rather than political alliances with officeholders.
According to El-Rufai, the current political movement is designed to provide Nigerians with a genuine alternative to the status quo, rather than recycling existing political structures. He dismissed the notion that governors are essential to electoral success, asserting that each governor holds only one vote, while the general population possesses the real electoral power. He cited the example of President Tinubu’s own experience in Lagos during the 2023 election, where, despite the backing of a sitting governor, Tinubu lost the state — a result El-Rufai described as a lesson in the limits of gubernatorial influence.
This assertion came in the wake of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum distancing itself from coalition talks following speculation of a possible merger with opposition elements. After a meeting held in Ibadan attended by the party’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and several PDP governors, the forum reiterated its decision to rebuild the PDP independently and rejected any form of coalition or merger for the time being. Despite this, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State broke ranks shortly afterward, publicly endorsing President Tinubu for a second term during the launch of a federal road project, declaring Akwa Ibom’s commitment to the president’s continuity agenda.
Further weakening the perception of a unified opposition, defections from the PDP to the APC have intensified. Among those who recently joined the ruling party are Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 running mate Ifeanyi Okowa, and their loyalists. These developments have raised doubts about the viability of any broad-based opposition alliance.
Nonetheless, El-Rufai insisted that the coalition’s plans remain unaffected. He said the alliance is not premised on political bigwigs but on grassroots mobilization and the desire to build a movement powered by the masses. Reiterating his earlier point, he noted that he himself, as a sitting governor in 2023, failed to deliver Kaduna State to the APC, which taught him that elections are ultimately decided by voters, not by political officeholders.
He also addressed questions about potential presidential candidates for the opposition coalition, saying it is premature to discuss personalities. Rather, the immediate goal is to establish a strong and credible platform. Aspirants such as Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi may be seen as potential flagbearers, but El-Rufai urged all those with ambitions to set them aside for now and contribute to building a united and trustworthy political movement.
In addition, El-Rufai distanced himself from regionally driven politics, emphasizing that Nigeria’s challenges have transcended North-South divisions. He stated that he is only interested in supporting a leader — from any region — who can solve the country’s pressing issues and energize the electorate. Warning of a possible national collapse if the current trajectory continues, he said the 2027 elections must be about survival, unity, and progress.
He also clarified that the coalition had never intended to merge with the PDP. According to him, the PDP is a weakened party riddled with internal issues and no longer fit to lead Nigeria. Instead, the goal of the coalition is to forge a fresh and inspiring alternative, comprised of like-minded individuals who are committed to real change.
Explaining the choice of the SDP as the coalition’s primary platform, El-Rufai noted that the party was selected after a thorough review of parties most likely to survive potential deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He highlighted the importance of building a party from the ground up one with institutional structures, member participation, and true internal democracy.
Finally, El-Rufai stressed that a major failure of past political parties in Nigeria has been the dominance of godfathers and the absence of internal democratic processes. He vowed that the new coalition would be different, seeking to create a political home where every member has a voice and no one holds disproportionate control.
