By Our Reporter
In a surprising turn of events, Bashir El-Rufai, the son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has signaled a shift in his political views, particularly towards Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election. This comes after his father’s defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which has sparked significant political commentary.
Bashir, known for his strong political presence and often controversial remarks, has been vocal on social media, sharing his evolving thoughts. In one tweet, he made a startling statement: “Peter Obi is surprisingly not a bad person after all. My views on him have changed recently. My mind was poisoned by my former party members. Sai Obi!” This comment has sparked curiosity and speculation about El-Rufai’s growing interest in Obi’s political future, possibly signaling a potential alignment for the 2027 elections.
Bashir’s comments suggest that he might be distancing himself from the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he previously supported the party’s ideals, and is now gravitating towards Obi as his father’s seeks to look towards Obi. His tweet also indicated that many of his initial negative views towards Obi were influenced by members of the APC, further strengthening his position in supporting Obi for the future.
In another tweet, Bashir invited young Nigerians to join the SDP, urging them to register via an online platform. He stated that the platform would be available by the end of the week, urging youth to become part of what he described as a new political movement that aligns with his father’s vision.
Meanwhile, Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has weighed in on the El-Rufai defection. Bwala dismissed the move as driven by “inordinate ambition,” asserting that the former governor’s association with those he labeled “sore losers” in the bid to unseat the incumbent president was unlikely to succeed. Bwala remarked, “Senior @elrufai, I read the news today that you resigned from APC to join SDP. I have nothing against you because you exercised your constitutional right. However, the MOTIVE is what we would interrogate in the coming days and remind Nigerians that you are not a phenomenon that emerged like a clap of thunder.”
Bwala continued, emphasizing that aligning with political figures who had previously failed in their efforts to unseat President Tinubu was not based on ideology or progressivism, but rather an ambition he believes is doomed to fail.
As the political dynamics unfold, it seems that Bashir El-Rufai’s shift towards Peter Obi and the SDP is part of a broader realignment, possibly aimed at creating new alliances for the 2027 presidential race. Whether this signals a full-blown support for Obi remains to be seen, but the development is certainly one to watch as political figures and parties prepare for the next electoral cycle.