Over the weekend, Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, engaged in political consultations, meeting with leaders from various parties including the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and All Progressives Congress (APC),leadership reports.
The meeting, held at the Abuja residence of Senator Abubakar Gada, the 2023 governorship candidate of SDP in Sokoto State, took place during the “IFTAR” breaking of the fast. Alongside Gada and El-Rufai, attendees included SDP national chairman Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, Senator Teslim Folarin, former Senate Leader and the APC gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State in the 2023 general elections.
Also present were Senator Nazif Suleiman from the PDP, hailing from Bauchi State, and Hon. Kamel Akinlabi, a former member of the House of Representatives from the PDP in Oyo State, among others.
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This meeting followed El-Rufai’s recent visit to the SDP national secretariat in Abuja, where he met with Gabam and other party executives. Additionally, El-Rufai met with Senator Abdul Ningi shortly after the latter’s suspension from the Senate.
El-Rufai, who played a pivotal role in campaigning for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 elections, faced obstacles to his ministerial ambitions due to a petition against his appointment in the Senate. Despite temporarily retreating from active politics, his recent engagements have sparked rumors of a possible defection.
However, a source from the gathering hinted at a political realignment preceding the 2027 general election, emphasizing the significance of national figures uniting to address the challenges facing Nigeria.
Gabam expressed appreciation for the gathering, highlighting the collective commitment to restoring the country’s prosperity. He emphasized the necessity for stakeholders to collaborate irrespective of political affiliations.
In response to speculations about El-Rufai’s political future, his media aide clarified that his principal has no intention of contesting against Tinubu in 2027. He emphasized El-Rufai’s longstanding friendships across party lines and criticized unfounded speculations about his motives and actions.
