El-Rufai Leaves Door Open for 2027 Presidential Run Amid Party Pressure
Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has indicated he might consider a presidential bid in the 2027 elections, but only under specific circumstances involving his political party's direct request. The prominent politician made these remarks during a recent television interview, sparking renewed speculation about Nigeria's future political landscape.
Non-Committal Stance with Conditional Openness
During an appearance on Arise News' Prime Time program on Friday, February 13, El-Rufai clarified that while he has no current plans to seek the presidency, he remains open to the possibility if his party leaders strongly urge him to run. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain emphasized that the decision would depend entirely on party dynamics rather than personal ambition.
"I have said this over and over. I'm not a candidate for any office," El-Rufai stated during the interview. "In fact, I ought to have retired. But for the disaster that I contributed in forcing on Nigerians, I would have been in Egypt, you know, writing my books and completing my PhD and learning to be fluent in Arabic. That was my life plan after Kaduna."
Expressing Regret Over National Challenges
The former Federal Capital Territory minister expressed deep concern about Nigeria's current situation, noting widespread suffering across religious, ethnic, and regional divides. He particularly lamented what he described as the massive diversion of public resources to a few privileged individuals, stating that this reality "hurts me a lot."
El-Rufai explained: "The country is in bad shape and every Nigerian is suffering across religious, ethnic, regional, and whatever divide. Everyone is having to go through a lot. And side by side with that, you know, you have this affluence and massive diversion of public resources to a few individuals."
Political Unpredictability Acknowledged
When pressed about whether a presidential run was somewhere in the back of his mind, El-Rufai responded emphatically: "No, no, no, no, no. It's not at the back of my mind. There are people that have come out, have indicated their interests, and I think they will do a good job."
However, he acknowledged the inherent unpredictability of politics, noting that "you never say never in politics. And 24 hours is a long time. Even if I tell you I will not run today, tomorrow, it can change." The former governor specifically mentioned that if all leaders of his party approached him and requested he run because other potential candidates had withdrawn, he would reconsider his position.
Election Timeline Already Established
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already announced that Nigeria's 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on February 20, 2027. Governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls are scheduled for March 6, 2027, according to INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, who disclosed the election timetable during a news conference in Abuja.
This established timeline provides context for El-Rufai's remarks, as political actors begin positioning themselves nearly three years before the crucial elections. The former governor's conditional openness to running suggests he remains a significant figure in Nigerian politics who could potentially re-enter the national stage under specific circumstances.
El-Rufai concluded his remarks by stating: "For now, no. It is not in my playbook." This carefully worded statement leaves room for future political maneuvers while maintaining his current non-candidacy position, reflecting the calculated ambiguity often necessary in Nigeria's complex political environment.
