Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has stated that President Bola Tinubu has no chance of winning re-election in the 2027 general election, asserting that Nigerians have lost faith in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the current administration. El-Rufai, now a chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), made these remarks in an interview shared on X on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

“Anybody that thinks it is possible for President Bola Tinubu to get re-elected is living in another country, not Nigeria. It is impossible,” El-Rufai said, emphasizing that widespread dissatisfaction with the APC’s policies would prevent Tinubu’s re-election. He added, “I don’t see a pathway for him,” predicting that even a weak opposition could defeat the president due to public discontent.

El-Rufai’s comments come despite assurances from the Tinubu administration that Nigeria’s economic challenges will soon ease. On Wednesday, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris highlighted the government’s efforts to stabilize the economy during an interview.

Dismissing defections to the APC, El-Rufai described those joining the ruling party as “greedy and hungry politicians” seeking personal gains like contracts or appointments, or those fearing investigations by agencies like the EFCC or ICPC. He stressed that the SDP and its emerging coalition are focused on mobilizing voters, not defectors, for the 2027 elections. “The 2027 elections will be between the APC and Nigerians,” he declared.

Once a key supporter of Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign, El-Rufai has joined forces with figures like former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to form a coalition aimed at unseating Tinubu through the ballot in 2027.

The former governor’s remarks signal a deepening political divide as Nigeria approaches the next election cycle, with opposition groups intensifying efforts to challenge the APC’s hold on power.