Bashir El-Rufai, son of the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has stirred social media discourse after publicly declaring admiration for Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The unexpected endorsement came on Wednesday, July 2, after the Coalition Meeting of opposition figures, where Peter Obi was pictured alongside Nasir El-Rufai and other prominent politicians. Bashir, who had previously been a vocal critic of Obi, shared the image on his X account with a surprising caption: “He don dey mature,” suggesting a shift in perception.
The post instantly caught the attention of followers, many of whom were puzzled by his sudden change in tone. One user queried whether he would now refrain from his usual criticism of the former Anambra governor.
In response, Bashir made his new stance clear: “I now love Peter Obi,” before adding the Northern political slogan in support of Obi: “Sai Peter Obi.”
Explaining his position further, Bashir emphasized that political figures and commentators have the right to evolve in their opinions.
“Others have changed their views, why can’t I?” he asked rhetorically, reinforcing his freedom to reassess and realign politically.
His declaration has since gone viral, with Nigerians online debating whether it was a genuine shift, satire, or a reflection of the growing dynamics within Nigeria’s opposition space ahead of the 2027 elections.