By Muhammad Mamman
Nigeria’s former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has cast strong doubt on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prospects of securing a second term, saying anyone who believes the president can be re-elected “must be living in another country, not Nigeria.”
El-Rufai made the remarks during a public engagement where he criticised the current administration’s handling of national issues, arguing that widespread public dissatisfaction would make a 2027 victory unlikely.
Although he did not provide specific data to back his assertion, El-Rufai insisted that growing economic hardship and declining public confidence were major indicators that Nigerians would demand change at the next election cycle.
The comments have sparked political reactions, with supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissing his claims as speculative and unrepresentative of national sentiment. Critics of the government, however, say the remarks reflect genuine frustrations felt across parts of the country.
The Presidency has yet to issue an official response to El-Rufai’s statement.
El-Rufai, once a key ally of President Tinubu, has in recent months become increasingly vocal about policy disagreements and governance concerns.
As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 election season, analysts say the political landscape is likely to become even more charged, with influential figures such as El-Rufai playing a significant role in shaping public debate.
