Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has firmly stated that he is not running for the presidency in 2027, despite growing speculation about his political future. In an exclusive interview with Arise Television on Friday, El-Rufai clarified that he is not currently seeking any elective office.
“I have said this over and over, I’m not a candidate for any office. I would have been in Egypt pursuing my PhD, but because I contributed to putting this government in place, I am still here to correct the decision,” El-Rufai emphasized.
Pressed further about his potential bid for the presidency in 2027, El-Rufai responded: “For now, I am not running.” However, the former governor acknowledged the fluid nature of politics, remarking that “You never say never in politics,” while reiterating that the decision to contest has not been made by him.
Despite denying any immediate presidential ambitions, El-Rufai indicated that any future decision would largely depend on the direction taken by his political associates and party stakeholders. “The decision has not been made by me,” he stated, highlighting that political developments often evolve over time.
In addition to addressing speculation about his political future, El-Rufai shared his concerns about the state of the nation, describing Nigeria as being in a challenging phase. He weighed in on the controversy surrounding former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who has been named in a proposed U.S. congressional bill that could subject him to visa bans and asset freezes for “severe religious freedom violations.”
El-Rufai criticized the focus on Kwankwaso, suggesting that singling him out was misleading. According to the former governor, many northern states, including Zamfara, Kano, and others, implemented Sharia law, but it was Zamfara, the first state to do so, that should have been targeted first if anyone were to be blamed.
“Look, 12 northern states implemented Sharia, okay? The first state to do so was Zamfara. I thought Zamfara should be listed there, if at all anyone is to be blamed for this Sharia fiasco,” he remarked.
El-Rufai further stressed that the implementation of Sharia law in Kano was not any different from other northern states, and accused the U.S. of falsely labeling Kwankwaso as a religious extremist. “Kwankwaso followed suit like many other northern governors. Kano did not do anything different in the way it implemented Sharia. Kano was not very strict,” he explained.
The former governor also pointed out the selective nature of the U.S. narrative, questioning why other governors who had implemented Sharia law, such as Abdulaziz Yari, were not being mentioned. “Nobody is mentioning people like Abdulaziz Yari and other governors that protected and promoted Sharia, people that cut off hands, but it is Kwankwaso that is being targeted here. It makes me want to ask questions; where is this coming from?” El-Rufai questioned.
He also suggested that political factors might be influencing the targeting of Kwankwaso, particularly his refusal to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “Is it the nine billion dollars lobbying money that led to the listing of Kwankwaso because he has refused to move to the APC? The evil that this government is capable of is beyond your imagination,” El-Rufai said, hinting at a possible political motive behind the accusations.
El-Rufai urged Nigerians to critically examine political narratives and avoid being misled by partisan interests, emphasizing the need for discernment in navigating the country’s political landscape. “As Nigerians, we should not get carried away. We must be very discerning,” he advised.
On the issue of insecurity and allegations of genocide, El-Rufai maintained that the primary concern should be the protection of all citizens, irrespective of their religious affiliation. “Whether Christian or Muslim, everyone is at risk. That is what we should be worried about. We need to ask difficult questions. This genocide of a thing is a domestic politics in the U.S, this has nothing to do with Nigeria,” he concluded.
