ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- As political momentum builds ahead of the 2027 general elections, former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Honourable Farouk Aliyu, has declared that President Bola Tinubu remains the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Aliyu made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, reaffirming the APC’s commitment to Tinubu’s re-election.
“In our own party, we have our candidate in the President. There is no qualm about it. We know our candidate and will work for him by the grace of God,” he stated.
On El-Rufai’s Role and Exit
Aliyu also addressed the recent resignation of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, from the ruling party.
He reminisced on El-Rufai’s pivotal role in securing Tinubu’s victory during the 2023 elections.
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According to Aliyu, El-Rufai was instrumental in rallying support from the northern governors when Tinubu sought the presidency.
“My friend Nasir El-Rufai came out when Bola Tinubu wanted to be President. He led the governors of the North, he insulted everybody.
“He said he would go with Tinubu so all of us went with Tinubu. Tinubu won the election, he was promised ministerial election, something happened and he didn’t get it,” Aliyu stated.
El-Rufai: From Kingmaker to Critic
El-Rufai was a vocal advocate for a southern presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, upholding the informal power rotation between North and South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
As governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, El-Rufai played a central role in backing Tinubu over prominent northern aspirants like then-Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former Jigawa Governor Mohammed Badaru.
Following Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election, El-Rufai was nominated for a ministerial position.
However, his nomination was rejected by the Senate, reportedly due to security concerns raised by the Department of State Services (DSS). This marked a turning point in his relationship with the Tinubu administration.
Since August 2023, El-Rufai has distanced himself from APC activities and has not appeared at any events involving party chieftains or the presidency.
His political presence has been more visible among members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), leading to speculation about his defection—rumours he initially denied before officially confirming his exit on March 10, 2025.
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Rift in Kaduna Politics
El-Rufai’s relationship with his successor, Governor Uba Sani, has also deteriorated.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has launched a probe into El-Rufai’s administration over alleged corruption a charge the former governor has strongly denied.
Once a staunch ally and political force behind Tinubu’s rise, El-Rufai now positions himself as a critic of the current administration, claiming the APC has deviated from the ideals envisioned by its founding members.