Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has declared that the newly formed opposition coalition does not rely on the support of state governors to defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the coalition’s strategy is rooted in grassroots mobilisation and people-driven politics, rather than elite alliances.
Speaking during a media chat in Kano, El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said, “We are trying to offer Nigerians a real alternative. A governor has only one vote. Nigerians have many more votes than 36 governors combined.”
His remarks come amid rising political realignments and defections ahead of the next election cycle.
While speculations had mounted over a potential opposition merger involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), PDP governors recently shut down such possibilities, choosing instead to focus on internal party restructuring.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State publicly pledged his support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid, further dimming hopes of a united opposition front.
Similarly, notable PDP figures including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, have reportedly aligned with the APC.
El-Rufai, however, dismissed the impact of such defections, insisting that the movement is people-centered.
“Governors do not determine elections.The people do. President Tinubu had a sitting governor in Lagos and still lost the state in 2023. I tried my best in Kaduna and still didn’t deliver for him,” he admitted.
He further stressed that the coalition is not focused on immediate candidacy but on building a credible and democratic platform through the SDP.
“We’ve told everyone with presidential ambitions to hold off. This is about building trust first,” El-Rufai noted.
Rejecting regional politics and party mergers with legacy parties like the PDP, El-Rufai called for a departure from traditional political structures.
“The PDP is a spent force. We want to inspire Nigerians with a new beginning — not recycle broken platforms,” he said.
He also explained the choice of the SDP as the coalition’s base, citing its historical relevance and resilience against INEC deregistration.
“It has pedigree and cannot be deregistered under current laws. But more importantly, it is a platform we can build from the ground up,” he added.
Highlighting lessons from past political experiences, El-Rufai emphasised the need for internal democracy and collective leadership. “What destroyed past parties is godfatherism and lack of accountability. We want a people-owned party where every member matters,” he said.