KANO, Nigeria — Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai don talk say di recent defection of top politicians to di All Progressives Congress (APC) no dey bother am. E insist say election na di voters matter, not di politicians.
El-Rufai make dis statement while e visit Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II for Kano. E explain say after proper evaluation of di few political parties wey fit survive di upcoming INEC deregistration, e choose to join di Social Democratic Party (SDP). “We don conclude say di SDP get di best structure, pedigree, and potential to survive,” he talk. “E need rebuilding, yes, but na di most viable option for us.”
Di former governor emphasize say di SDP dey different because e no dey controlled by any single person. “We don see how godfatherism and lack of internal democracy don destroy political parties for Nigeria. Both PDP and APC don suffer from dis issue, and we want create a party where no one fit impose candidates or take over di structure,” he add.
El-Rufai talk say nation-building no be about loyalty to a political party, but about loyalty to di nation. He remember sey back for 2016, he don write President Buhari letter to express im concerns, but di letter later leak to di public.
During a media chat on Monday, El-Rufai, a key player for di new opposition coalition, declare sey di coalition no need support from governors to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for 2027 elections. “Our strategy dey focus on mobilizing voters directly, not chasing political officeholders,” e talk. “We dey offer Nigerians a real alternative — something wey dem never see before.”
El-Rufai argue sey even if all governors gather, dem no fit stand against di people if dem reject dem. “A governor get only one vote, but Nigerians get many more votes than one governor or even 36 governors combined,” e say. He stress say di coalition dey aim for grassroots mobilization.
Dis remarks come against di background of di PDP Governors’ Forum rejecting any plans for coalition ahead of 2027 elections. After meeting for Ibadan where di party’s acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and several governors attend, di forum make am clear say dem no dey interested in merging with any party.
In response to di defections from di PDP, El-Rufai maintain sey di coalition’s strength no dey rely on governors. “If we dey worry about PDP governors’ defection, den we no understand how elections dey work. Di people wey go vote na di real power, no be di governors,” he conclude.
El-Rufai reflect on di takeaway from his past experiences and how elections dey ultimately depend on di people. “I was di governor of Kaduna State. I fight hard to deliver President Tinubu for my state, but I lose. Dat wan teach me sey elections dey decided by di people, no be by political figures.”
As for di presidential candidates, El-Rufai say dis stage no dey about selecting candidates yet. “Our focus now na to build di platform first. We no wan unseat anyone now; we want all aspirants to put their ambitions aside and join us as equal members to build a credible alternative,” he state.
He also talk sey di coalition no dey tied to regional politics, stressing sey Nigeria’s issues transcend any ethnic or regional interests. “I no care where di president go come from. I want a candidate wey fit bring solution to our problems, regardless of im region,” he assert.
In conclusion, El-Rufai clarify say di coalition no get plans to merge with di PDP, as dem confirm say di PDP na spent force. “We wan give Nigerians a genuine alternative, not a rebranded version of parties wey don experience crisis. Na dis fresh movement we dey build,” he add.
