A former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, poohed-poohed the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, move to the SDP, saying it would not alter the political landscape of the state.
Sani, who represented the Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, noted that El-Rufai’s political relevance and influence had waned.
“Leaving APC for SDP wouldn’t make any difference for someone with no political relevance again,” he declared.
Sani also expressed the assurance that both Tinubu and Sani would secure re-election in 2027.
“But one thing is sure, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani will be voted again,” he said.
Defection premature – Lukman
The former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the APC and a key strategist in the ongoing proposed coalition among opposition parties, Salihu Lukman, bemoaned the defection of El-Rufai to the SDP.
Lukman, a loyalist of the ex-governor, said the defection was too premature and was not the kind of collective move they earlier projected.
The former Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum disclosed this in an interview with some selected journalists in Abuja.
He said, “Yes, I am close to Mallam El-Rufai to the extent that we come from the same state and were in the same party.
“I had the privilege of being nominated by him to serve on the National Working Committee of the APC. Of course, as everybody knows, we have our own disagreements.
“It (defection) is expected. Even after the interview he granted on Arise TV, you can see the handwriting. However, I expected that he should have been a bit patient for us to walk out as a group, based on the ongoing negotiation.
“But he knows better, and I do hope his decision is not going to become like a kind of breakaway from whatever we are doing. I hope that in the end, we should be able to reconcile and work together under one platform.”
When asked if his camp and some key northern elites would join El-Rufai in the SDP, Lukman expressed reservations about the leadership of the opposition party.
The former APC chieftain, however, noted that they might take their chances if certain conditions were met.
He stated, “The challenge is whether SDP will submit itself to some of the conditions that we believe are necessary.
“Frankly speaking, unlike most conventional politicians, most conventional politicians who just want a platform where they will present candidates and use it to win elections, there are a few of us who believe the issue is beyond that.
“What Nigerians need is a platform that will promote political competition in the country. If you remember, the challenge Nigerians had with the PDP was the problem of imposition of candidates.
“When the APC came and promised ‘change’, the expectation was that we would change the culture of imposition.
“Unfortunately, we have failed in that. In fact, it has become worse. If things continue as they are, you can predict that President Tinubu will become the candidate of APC, and you can predict all the first-time governors of APC will emerge as the candidate of APC, whether they are popular in their states or not.”
He added, “You can also predict all legislators at federal and state levels, whether they have performed or not, will return. So long as they are in the good books of Asiwaju and the party leadership, they will be returned.
“So, we may move if the SDP meets the conditions I have highlighted. We are in discussion, no doubt about it. If they meet it tomorrow, fine.”
PDP, Utomi-led NCFront disagree
While the Pat Utomi-led National Consultative Front embraced El-Rufai’s return to the opposition, describing him as a strong and influential figure in the proposed mega coalition, the PDP referred to his defection to the SDP as a mistake.
In its response, the Pat Utomi-led National Consultative Front welcomed El-Rufai back to the opposition, describing him as a powerful and influential figure in the planned mega coalition.
NCFront’s Director-General, Olawale Okunniyi, praised El-Rufai’s coalition-building experience—particularly his role in establishing the APC—as a valuable asset in the ongoing talks to create a political alliance to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.
Speaking, Okunniyi highlighted El-Rufai’s negotiation skills, his experience as a former governor, and his strong political support in the northern region as crucial to the opposition’s strategy.
While noting that the SDP was one of the platforms being considered, Okunniyi mentioned that discussions on the coalition’s chosen platform were still ongoing and should be concluded by July.
He stated, “El-Rufai, coming from the North and being a former governor who previously collaborated with General Muhammadu Buhari, is a significant force. He cannot be underestimated.
“He has successfully built coalitions before, facilitated high-level discussions, and played a vital role in promoting an alternative political platform. His experience makes him a formidable and influential force.
“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is once again welcomed back to the fold of the opposition in Nigeria, just as he was embraced into the Congress for Progressive Change in 2012/2013 during the formation of the APC.
“It appears that he and others within the APC are working to establish their opposition platform, enabling them to actively engage in the ongoing consultations and discussions aimed at creating a mega coalition party to challenge the ruling party.”
Okunniyi also disclosed that a national political summit for opposition stakeholders was planned for July, where a final decision on the coalition’s platform would be made.
He, however, said the decision would be made through a bottom-up approach, ensuring the selected party reflected the interests of all involved stakeholders.
“Discussions regarding the opposition platform for the 2027 elections have reached an advanced stage.
“El-Rufai and his allies must strategically align themselves with a credible opposition platform to effectively participate in the ongoing consultations and negotiations.
“They cannot claim to represent the APC in these opposition engagements,” he explained.
He further noted that a mega-platform of opposition stakeholders was expected to emerge in the coming months, based on extensive consultations and a consensus-building process.
“One certainty is that whichever platform is ultimately chosen must undergo rebranding and restructuring to accommodate the diverse interests involved in these negotiations,” he said.
Okunniyi added that while forming a new political party remains an option—provided the Independent National Electoral Commission does not pose an obstacle—existing opposition parties such as the Labour Party, SDP, PDP, African Democratic Congress, and New Nigeria People’s Party could also be adopted.
The PDP National Deputy Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, however, referred to El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP as a mistake.
Osadolor, in an interview, pointed out that a strong politician like El-Rufai should have joined the PDP, which he called the most powerful opposition party in Nigeria.
He stated, “El-Rufai’s defection from the APC further confirms the issues within the ruling party. He is a critical stakeholder in Northwest politics.
“He is a great strategist and a valuable asset that any strong political party would want to have. However, I believe he made a mistake by joining the SDP.
“The PDP platform remains the most credible and viable opposition party in Nigeria, with all the necessary reach to challenge the APC.”
The SDP presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Adewole Adebayo, welcomed the former Kaduna State governor to the party.
Writing on his verified X handle, @Pres_Adebayo, he said: “On behalf of the teeming members of the SDP and patriotic democrats who believe in Nigeria and her promise of inevitable greatness, I heartily welcome my dear brother El-Rufai to our party.
“With the hardworking and sagacious Mallam joining our ranks, an avid worker for the people has been enlisted in our forces against poverty and insecurity.
“Now is the time for us to put our collective shoulders behind the efforts to fulfil Chapter 2 of the Constitution and rescue Nigerians from bad governance and underdevelopment to restore #HopeAgain 2027 to the suffering masses callously left behind in the locust years of the APC and its co-traveller PDP.”
He emphasised that all genuine democrats and true nationalists who believed in order, decency and honesty were welcome to the SDP, “where we are governed by law, not men, the constitution not constipation of money or personal ambition.”
Adebayo added, “Together, following the law, the constitution and the manifesto of our party, we can set a good example of clean and ethical politics to emulate and rally Nigeria to the forefront of the liberation of Africa and peoples of the Black World.
“Good politics begets good governance. Let no one sit on the fence any further. There is no time to waste. Join us on the March again. God bless Nigeria.”
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
