The All Progressives Congress (APC), via its National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, has publicly slapped down ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El‑Rufai, calling on him to “go and find a job” instead of mobilizing Nigerians to oust President Bola Tinubu years before the 2027 election. This fierce rebuke comes just days after El‑Rufai teamed up with opposition figures calling for Tinubu’s downfall.
El‑Rufai Goes on Warpath
In recent engagements in Sokoto and beyond, El‑Rufai has emerged as a leading voice urging citizens to unite to defeat the APC in the upcoming 2027 polls. He described the ruling party as “a failed, clannish, and visionless administration” drowning Nigeria in socio-economic despair—a move many see as a direct threat to Tinubu’s presidency.
APC’s Scathing Response
In a swift riposte, Basiru dismissed El‑Rufai’s political maneuvering as both premature and futile:
“Why is he in a hurry? 2027 is far. The guidelines for the 2027 elections won’t even be issued until February 2026… He should go back to school, play with his grandchildren, or find a job.”
Governance and administration, not opposition theatrics, he added, are the ruling party’s priority.
Unity or Coercion?
Critics argue that Basiru’s remarks attempt to shut down questions around accountability—and quell internal dissent within APC ranks. Meanwhile, observers warn of growing discontent among party factions who feel sidelined by Tinubu’s increasingly centralized leadership.
Opposition Gaining Ground
El‑Rufai’s defection to the SDP and alignment with Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi under the ADC coalition have intensified the political storm. Despite APC’s attempts to dismiss these alliances as weak and contrived, opposition leaders see their partnership as a serious counterforce to Tinubu’s dominance
ANALYSIS & PERSPECTIVE
- Timing vs Temperament: El‑Rufai’s early mobilization may be seen as strategic foresight—or as reckless politicking aimed at personal relevance, especially after being rejected for a ministerial appointment.
- APC’s Image Problem: Partisan leaders have begun recalling his alleged missteps during his tenure—accusing him of worsening ethnic divisions and neglecting Southern Kaduna. This fuels the argument that APC’s vendetta is as much about optics as it is power.
- Coalition vs Grandmaster: Basiru’s repeated claim that Tinubu is the “grandmaster of coalitions” frames the President as supremely capable—casting the opposition alliance as amateurish pretenders.
With just two years to go before 2027, this explosive exchange reveals exactly how early the political battlefield is being drawn. While APC projects calm and control, El‑Rufai pushes forward—and the ideological tension is setting the stage for one of Nigeria’s most dramatic election cycles yet.
Stay alert: Expect this saga to deepen—and get noisier—very soon.
