Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has provided insight into his decision to collaborate with President Bola Tinubu prior to the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, shedding light on a key alliance that shaped the political landscape of the time.
The revelation, detailed in a report from a credible source on February 24, 2025, has reignited discussions about the dynamics within Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nasir El-Rufai’s influential role in national politics.
Nasir El-Rufai, who served as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, is a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, known for his tenure as minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
His decision to work with Tinubu, the APC’s presidential candidate and now the President of Nigeria, ahead of the February 25, 2023, election underscores his strategic positioning within the party.
The election saw Tinubu secure victory with 36.61% of the vote, narrowly defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, in a highly contested race.
Nasir El-Rufai’s political career is marked by bold reforms and controversial decisions.
During his governorship in Kaduna, he implemented sweeping changes to reduce governance costs, including slashing the number of ministries from 19 to 13 and reducing permanent secretaries from 35 to 18.
He also appointed a leaner cabinet of 13 commissioners, 10 special advisers, and 12 special assistants, a stark contrast to the larger administrations of his predecessors.
These measures, coupled with his comprehensive education reforms aimed at revitalizing Kaduna’s education sector, earned him both praise and criticism.
However, Nasir El-Rufai’s tenure has not been without controversy.
In 2023, a video surfaced in which he openly admitted to discriminating against Christians in Kaduna’s political appointments, citing electoral calculations that prioritized Muslim areas for support.
This admission sparked outrage among the Christian community and human rights groups, with one watchdog accusing him of fueling religious tensions, contrary to his stated goal of reducing religiously motivated violence.
Earlier, in 2014, Nasir El-Rufai faced backlash for a tweet alleging Christian involvement in funding Boko Haram, further highlighting his polarizing stance on religious issues.
The 2023 presidential election itself was a contentious affair, marked by internal APC feuds, allegations of electoral irregularities, and criticism over the choice of London, England, as a meeting location for key political discussions, which some deemed insensitive to Nigerians’ domestic struggles.
Nasir El-Rufai’s role in supporting Tinubu must also be viewed against the backdrop of his own political ambitions and the complex dynamics within the APC, where he has been both a kingmaker and a target of internal rivalries.
Recent reports, including a February 10, 2025, article by TV360 Nigeria, indicate that El-Rufai has dismissed claims of failing to support Tinubu during the 2023 campaign, asserting that he has moved beyond such allegations.
Responding to a social media user, El-Rufai emphasized his straightforward approach to politics, stating, “Truly, I don’t know how to pretend,” signaling his commitment to transparency despite ongoing debates about his influence in the Tinubu administration.
As of 8:29 AM WAT on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, El-Rufai’s explanation of his pre-2023 election partnership with Tinubu continues to generate buzz on social media platforms like X.
The revelation not only highlights the strategic alliances that propelled Tinubu to victory but also reignites scrutiny of Nasir El-Rufai’s polarizing legacy, as Nigeria navigates its political future under the current administration.
