Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, says a new opposition coalition can defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections without relying on the support of state governors.
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), made this known during a media chat in Kano. He argued that political power lies with the people, not a few influential individuals.
“A governor has only one vote. Nigerians, millions of them, have more power than 36 governors combined,” he said, advocating for a people-led movement as the engine of political change.
His comments follow a series of defections from opposition ranks, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former vice presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, both of whom have joined the APC. Despite these moves, El-Rufai maintained that the coalition remains strong and unfazed.
“Governors do not determine election results. The people do,” he reiterated.
He also addressed speculations about a possible merger with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP Governors’ Forum had earlier dismissed any merger talks, stating its focus was on rebuilding the party. El-Rufai, however, said the coalition had no intention of working with the PDP, which he described as a spent force.
Instead, the coalition has adopted the Social Democratic Party as its political platform, citing its historical significance and compliance with recent INEC deregistration guidelines.
“We are bringing like-minded Nigerians under one roof to build a party with real internal democracy,” El-Rufai said.
He dismissed early discussions around candidacy, saying the priority is to build a credible platform.
“We are not focused on picking a presidential candidate now. Our goal is to build a credible platform first.”
El-Rufai described the upcoming 2027 elections as critical to Nigeria’s future.