Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, in an Op-Ed posted on his verified account on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Tuesday, has issued a stark warning to supporters of the All Progressives Congress in the South West, cautioning that they are “playing with fire” as the political landscape prepares for the 2027 general elections. Though it may be premature to focus on 2027 less than two years into the current tenure, the unfolding political dynamics compel him to speak out now—after all, in El-Rufai’s words, “a stitch in time saves nine.”
As an APC member, El-Rufai naturally desires his party’s re-election in 2027. However, he remains a realist about the challenges ahead. Reflecting on the 2019 party primaries, El-Rufai recalled how he had warned that if the APC did not adhere to its promised progressive path and instead became fixated solely on winning elections by any means, it could follow the fate of the Peoples Democratic Party—which lost power after 16 years. He predicted then that such a departure from core principles might eventually lead to the APC being ousted at the federal level by 2031—a scenario that now appears increasingly plausible.
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El-Rufai expressed particular concern over the current “ghaghagha”—a term he uses to describe the growing arrogance and reckless behaviour—among some APC members and supporters in the South West. He lamented that many Nigerians, with their short memories, seem unaware of the lessons of the past. He recalled that during the run-up to the 2023 presidential election, he had cautioned against antagonising the North. That advice proved prescient, as common sense prevailed and the APC secured a decisive victory, largely with robust support from northern states.
2027: SOUTH WEST, TINUBU’S SUPPORTERS PLAYING WITH FIRE – Part 1
It is actually premature to be talking about 2027 elections less than 2 years into our first tenure, but what is happening in the political arena is forcing me to speak to it, for as they say, ‘a stitch in time…
— Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (@elrufai) February 11, 2025
However, less than two years into the current tenure, the relationship between President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the North appears to be rapidly deteriorating. El-Rufai attributes this decline to the conduct and rhetoric of certain individuals from the President’s own geopolitical zone and tribe. He warned that such behaviour mirrors the mistakes made by the PDP during President Goodluck Jonathan’s era, when disrespect towards the North contributed to the eventual downfall of a party that once boasted a 60-year rule.
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“While I acknowledge that President Tinubu is a formidable political juggernaut and a master strategist, Nigerian politics is not a one-man show. The North remains the kingmaker, and any party that disregards this reality may pay a steep political price,” he asserted.
El-Rufai urged APC supporters to remember the past and to refrain from repeating historical errors driven by tribal and geopolitical arrogance. With nearly two years left until the 2027 general elections, he called on the APC to refocus on delivering the democratic dividends it promised Nigerians. In his closing remarks, he continued to offer his support for the party and President Tinubu, while stressing that a renewed commitment to progressive ideology is essential if the party is to maintain power and avoid the pitfalls that once brought down the PDP.
“It is whom you love that you chastise,” El-Rufai concluded, reminding all that political accountability and historical awareness are indispensable in navigating Nigeria’s complex political terrain.
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