By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
KATSINA, Nigeria – Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has confirmed that a powerful opposition coalition is in motion ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) emerging as the agreed platform for the alliance.
Speaking during the Arewa TechFest held in Katsina on Wednesday, El-Rufai declared that he and other major opposition figures—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi—have resolved to unite to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the next election cycle.
“Yesterday at 8 PM, there was a very important meeting of the coalition we’re putting together to ensure that President Tinubu goes back to Lagos,” El-Rufai told a crowd of young innovators and entrepreneurs, eliciting murmurs and applause.
Sources close to the coalition confirmed that the trio held a closed-door meeting in Abuja on Tuesday night that lasted into the early hours of Wednesday. The outcome was the adoption of the African Democratic Congress as the unified party through which the opposition would present a joint presidential candidate in 2027.
“They have adopted the African Democratic Congress as the coalition party,” a source familiar with the negotiations revealed. “All of them—Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai—are working together to rescue the country.”
In a surprising twist, El-Rufai praised one of Tinubu’s ministers, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, stating that he would be retained in the next administration despite being part of the current government.
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“We will still keep Bosun Tijani,” El-Rufai said. “He is doing good work. He is performing excellently and deserves to stay.”
Dr. Tijani has garnered national and international acclaim for championing Nigeria’s digital transformation and fostering innovation in the tech ecosystem. His efforts have drawn praise across party lines, making him one of the standout figures in Tinubu’s cabinet.
El-Rufai’s bold remarks may mark his full return to the political frontline after maintaining a relatively low profile since the end of his tenure as governor in 2023. His re-emergence, particularly alongside seasoned political heavyweights like Atiku and Obi, signals the early stirrings of what could be a major realignment in Nigeria’s political landscape.
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As the 2027 elections draw closer, the coalition’s next moves—and the potential response from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—will be closely watched by analysts, party supporters, and the international community.
