A close ally of former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has appealed to him to rescind his decision not to contest any elective position in 2027, insisting that Nigeria needs his leadership now more than ever.
El-Rufai, a key leader of the opposition coalition movement and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had on Wednesday in Kaduna restated that he would not vie for any office in 2027. Speaking while receiving a group of PDP youths who defected to the ADC under the leadership of former PDP youth leader, Aliyu Bello, the former governor declared:
“I am not contesting for anything; I don’t want to go to the Senate. I am not contesting for any position. That is why I am calling on you: let us join hands and ensure we remove the oppressors.”
Reacting to the statement, Dr. Uche Diala, a staunch supporter and political ally of El-Rufai, told journalists that it would be a disservice to Nigeria and its democracy if the former governor stayed away from the 2027 polls.
“Mallam is one of the most consequential politicians in Nigeria today who has the capacity, qualification, and experience to make a real difference under our present realities,” Diala said. “His not participating will not only dampen the spirits of his supporters but would mean deliberately denying the nation the opportunity of benefitting from his immense wealth of experience.”
Diala, however, noted that he was not surprised by El-Rufai’s decision, describing him as a leader not driven by personal ambition but by a passion for building a credible coalition. He recalled that El-Rufai became governor of Kaduna after pressure from President Muhammadu Buhari and others, despite initially planning to pursue academic interests abroad.
The ally stressed that calls for El-Rufai’s candidacy were not about personal ambition but about rescuing Nigeria from its present challenges. “Nigeria needs him now more than ever and he must be sensitive to that reality,” he said.
Diala also clarified that his push for El-Rufai’s candidacy does not undermine other coalition leaders interested in the 2027 ticket, noting that the final decision would emerge from a free and transparent party primary.
He revealed that he and other like-minded supporters had been working underground to build support but would now become more vocal in pressing El-Rufai to reverse his decision.
On the issue of zoning and power rotation, Diala said: “Even as I am not a fan of rotational presidency because it promotes mediocrity, I am sensitive to that conversation. However, that is not the issue in discourse for now. What is important is for Mallam to be open and available to run for the ticket. At the appropriate time, we shall have the conversation about the head and tail of the ticket.”
Diala concluded by promising that pressure would intensify in the coming days to convince the former governor to make himself available.
“Mallam will hear from us and he will listen to us. It is not about him. It is about our dear nation. We shall spare no effort in making him rescind his unpopular decision,” he stated.
El-Rufai’s declaration that he will not contest any position in 2027 has continued to generate widespread reactions, particularly on social media, with his closest allies insisting that he must not sit out the race.