2027: Pack your bags, you’re going back to Lagos – El-Rufai tells Tinubu

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has sent a bold message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying he will be sent “back to Lagos” in the 2027 elections.

El-Rufai made this statement during the second Arewa Tech Fest in Katsina on Wednesday, where he also revealed plans to form a political coalition aimed at defeating President Tinubu in the upcoming presidential election.

At the event, which brought together tech experts, investors, and startups to promote innovation in northern Nigeria, El-Rufai emphasized that the opposition is united and determined to end Tinubu’s time in office.

“They (the organising team) had to come without me because yesterday (Tuesday) at 8pm there was a very important meeting of the coalition we’re putting together to ensure that President Tinubu goes back to Lagos,” El-Rufai said.

He apologized for arriving late, explaining that the late-night coalition meeting delayed his travel plans.

“I had to attend that meeting at 8pm. The Katsina airport does not operate after 8pm, so I could not come until this morning,” he added.

El-Rufai is a leading opposition figure actively working to build alliances to unseat Tinubu.

Earlier this year, he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), signaling his break with the current government.

While sharing the coalition plans, El-Rufai also praised the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, assuring that Tijani will keep his ministerial position if the coalition wins in 2027.

“We will still keep Bosun Tijani because he is doing good work,” he said.