Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has stated that the emerging coalition of opposition parties does not need the backing of governors to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Speaking in Kano, El-Rufai said the coalition’s strategy is focused on mobilizing voters directly, not courting political officeholders. “A governor has only one vote. Nigerians have many more votes than one governor or even 36 governors combined,” he said.
El-Rufai’s remarks come after the PDP Governors’ Forum rejected any coalition or merger ahead of 2027. The forum stated that they are focused on rebuilding their party for the future.
The former governor maintained that the coalition’s prospects remain intact, despite recent defections from the PDP to the APC. “We are not counting on governors to win elections. We are counting on the people,” he said.
El-Rufai also stated that conversations about potential presidential candidates are premature, and the focus should be on building a credible alternative platform.
