By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
Former Kaduna State Governor, and a known member of a coalition opposition party, and member of ADC, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has stirred political waters ahead of the 2027 general elections with a bold declaration that the winner of the next presidential race won’t be decided by the first runner-up.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, El-Rufai emphatically stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would not be on the ballot in 2027, sparking widespread speculation over the future of the ruling party and its leadership.
“I have no plans to run in 2027,” El-Rufai added, quashing any rumors about his personal political ambitions. He noted that if he ever returned to public service, it would be as Minister of Power, a role he says he once desired to transform Nigeria’s energy sector. His ambition? To ensure every corner of Nigeria has stable power by 2030.
The former governor didn’t hold back in criticizing the current administration. He slammed President Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s foreign exchange crisis, citing the collapse of the naira from N600 to over N1,500 to the dollar since Tinubu took office.
“The policies have pushed an estimated 30 million Nigerians into poverty,” El-Rufai claimed, adding that urgent economic reforms are needed to reverse the growing hardship across the nation.
The comments are likely to fuel debate within political circles as preparations for the 2027 elections begin to take shape.
