Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, says former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is gaining unprecedented acceptance in Nigeria’s core northern region ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Bashir made the observation in a social media post while commenting on the growing political momentum around Atiku and the opposition ahead of the election.
He said Atiku was being embraced by the core North in a manner he had not witnessed previously in the former vice-president’s political career.
“Atiku is gaining traction in the North. For the first time in his political career he is being embraced by the core North,” Bashir said.
He attributed the development partly to Atiku’s reputation as a politician who has historically positioned himself as a detribalised Nigerian.
According to Bashir, that perception could significantly alter the political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
“…in part of his mantra of being the most detribalised historically of the bunch. That calculus could be the game-changer,” he added.
Atiku, who served as vice-president from 1999 to 2007, has contested the presidency several times and remains one of the leading opposition figures positioning for the 2027 election.
His reported growing appeal in the North comes amid ongoing political realignments and efforts by opposition figures and parties to build a broad coalition capable of challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
Bashir El-Rufai’s latest assessment is also notable given his previous comments on the opposition’s presidential prospects. In February, he argued that Atiku should play the role of an elder statesman rather than become the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress
The political landscape ahead of 2027 remains fluid, with Atiku, Peter Obi and other opposition figures featuring prominently in discussions around a possible coalition against the governing All Progressives Congress.
Bashir’s latest comments therefore suggest that the battle for northern voters could become one of the defining factors in the 2027 presidential race.
