2027 Election: El-Rufai Declares Tinubu’s Re-Election Bid “Impossible,” Slams APC Performance
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahamd El-Rufai has publicly declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands no chance of securing a second term in office come the 2027 general election. The ex-governor, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), made this bold assertion during a recent media interview on June 19, 2025.
El-Rufai, who was once a staunch ally of Tinubu, now maintains that Nigerians have lost trust in both the ruling APC and President Tinubu’s leadership, citing widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of national issues, especially insecurity and economic hardship.
“Anybody who thinks Tinubu will be re-elected in 2027 is not living in Nigeria,” El-Rufai stated bluntly. “It’s not only unlikely it’s impossible.”
According to El-Rufai, the sentiment across the country suggests growing frustration among Nigerians, and even the weakest opposition candidate could unseat President Tinubu if elections were held today.
He argued that the president’s policies have alienated ordinary citizens and worsened economic and security conditions, leaving the APC vulnerable to an electoral defeat. El-Rufai’s departure from the APC and his vocal criticism are part of a larger effort to build an opposition coalition aimed at removing Tinubu from office in 2027.
Interestingly, El-Rufai’s comments came shortly after President Tinubu visited Kaduna State to inaugurate development projects and commend Governor Uba Sani, El-Rufai’s successor. During the visit, Tinubu hailed Sani for restoring peace and stability to the state, describing his leadership as a “paradigm shift in governance.”
Observers noted that Tinubu’s praise for Uba Sani, without acknowledging El-Rufai’s earlier efforts, appeared to be a subtle jab at the former governor. The president credited Sani with turning around a state once “toxic and uncontrollable,” suggesting that positive change only began after El-Rufai’s exit.
“Governor Uba Sani has redefined governance in Kaduna. His approach is inclusive, fair, and people-centered,” Tinubu tweeted.
El-Rufai’s shift from Tinubu loyalist to one of his most vocal critics marks a major political realignment ahead of 2027. Now positioned within the SDP, he’s reportedly working to unite various opposition figures under a shared goal of ending APC rule at the federal level.
His blunt assessment of Tinubu’s prospects and his readiness to speak out signal a deepening rift within the political class that once supported the president’s rise to power.
