Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has reaffirmed that his support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election was not rooted in personal friendship or a close relationship, but rather in political arrangements and party considerations within the All Progressives Congress (APC). El-Rufai made the declaration during a recent television interview, emphasising that he and Tinubu were never friends and that his political calculations were based on strategic decisions rather than personal loyalty.
Speaking on Trust TV, the ex-governor explained that his backing of Tinubu stemmed from internal party consultations and broader APC consensus ahead of the last general election. He stated clearly that he and Tinubu did not share the kind of personal rapport he once enjoyed with former President Muhammadu Buhari, underscoring that his political alignment was shaped by organisational imperatives and not by personal ties.
El-Rufai recalled that he was approached by Islamic leaders and party stakeholders who sought his support to ensure the emergence of a Southwest Muslim presidential candidate under the APC zoning arrangement that followed President Buhari’s two terms in office. Within that context, he said he participated in rallying support for Tinubu’s candidacy because it represented what many party leaders in the North and Southwest believed was the most viable option given the political circumstances at the time.
The former governor’s remarks came amid ongoing political realignment in Nigeria, including his departure from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) amid rifts within the party and disagreements over governance directions. El-Rufai has been openly critical of some aspects of the Tinubu administration since his exit from the APC, but he has repeatedly clarified that these criticisms are driven by principle and policy differences rather than personal vendettas.
Analysts interpreting El-Rufai’s comments note that his clarification serves to distinguish political support from personal friendship, a nuance that is significant in Nigeria’s complex elite political landscape. Political endorsements during presidential primaries and general elections often involve strategic calculations, coalition formations and regional considerations — dynamics that El-Rufai highlighted in describing his past support for Tinubu.
El-Rufai’s statement also speaks to broader discussions within Nigerian politics about loyalty, performance and political alliances. He has previously said that his support in 2023 was undertaken without any expectation of personal benefit, reinforcing the point that his backing was intended to uphold party unity and strategic goals at the time, even though he did not expect to be rewarded with a prominent position in the ensuing administration.
The former governor’s remarks come at a time of heightened debate over Nigeria’s political direction ahead of the 2027 general elections, with shifting alliances and new party coalitions emerging. His clarification about the nature of his relationship with President Tinubu adds context to his evolving political stance and underscores the distinction he draws between past support for the APC ticket and his current stance as a critical commentator on governance issues.
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