Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, visited ex-Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and Pastor Tunde Bakare in Lagos on Sunday, sparking fresh conversations about his political future and possible alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Photographs of El-Rufai posing with Aregbesola and Bakare went viral on social media, though the details of their discussions were not disclosed.
El-Rufai’s media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed the visit in a tweet on Sunday, stating, “Malam Nasir @elrufai was in Lagos today to visit Ogbeni @raufaregbesola and Pastor Tunde Bakare.” The visit comes days after El-Rufai met with former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, further fueling speculation about his political intentions.
El-Rufai, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, has been increasingly critical of the party and President Bola Tinubu. He recently blamed Tinubu for his rejection by the National Assembly during ministerial screening and accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of undermining the North over his alleged 2031 presidential ambition. In an interview on Arise Television, El-Rufai hinted at leaving the APC, stating that the party had already abandoned him. When asked if he would support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, El-Rufai dodged the question, saying he wasn’t certain if he would still be in the APC by then.
Aregbesola, a former ally of Tinubu, recently left the APC alongside his supporters in Osun State, while Bakare, who lost the APC presidential ticket to Tinubu in 2023, has also been critical of the current administration. El-Rufai’s recent visits to opposition figures, including 2023 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, have raised questions about his political strategy and potential alliances.
The APC has downplayed the significance of El-Rufai’s visits. The National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru, initially declined to comment, stating, “We don’t have any comment. Anybody who wants to worry about his movements is free. So far he is a Nigerian, El-Rufai is free to visit anybody he likes. We have more serious work to do than to comment on anybody roaming around.”
Similarly, the National Deputy Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, emphasized El-Rufai’s freedom to associate with whomever he chooses. He said, “You remember that he once visited Aregbesola when he was governor. But at the end of the day, returned and supported Mr. President. In recognition of that, there is freedom of association, which is very important. And it is good that he is exercising it to the highest. There is no restriction with respect to that. So I don’t think any meaning should be read into his recent visits other than a meeting of friends. At the end of the day, if it leads to something beyond that, we then need to make demands. So it is not every visit that we should give political colouration or gain. I am not even thinking about it. It is like me going to visit a political friend and it then becomes a national issue. If there is something that comes out of such association, we can then comment about it.”
El-Rufai’s recent activities, including his criticism of the APC and his meetings with opposition figures, have fueled speculation about his political ambitions and potential realignments ahead of the 2027 elections. His visits to Aregbesola and Bakare, both of whom have had strained relationships with the APC, suggest that El-Rufai may be exploring new political alliances or positioning himself for a significant role in the next election cycle.
