‘For now, I am not running’ — El-Rufai rules out 2027 presidential bid
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has denied plans to run for the presidency in 2027, insisting that he is not currently seeking any elective office.
Speaking in an interview on Arise Television on Friday, El-Rufai said he remains in public life to help correct decisions of the current administration, but stressed that he has made no personal decision to contest any election. “For now, I am not running,” he declared, adding that future political moves would depend on party stakeholders and associates.
El-Rufai also addressed the controversy surrounding former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in light of a proposed US congressional bill reportedly targeting him for alleged violations of religious freedom.
He argued that it was unfair to single out Kwankwaso, noting that 12 northern states, beginning with Zamfara, adopted Sharia law. “Kano did not do anything different in the way it implemented Sharia. Kwankwaso followed like many others,” he said.
He rejected portrayals of Kwankwaso as a religious extremist and questioned why other former governors who implemented Sharia, such as Abdulaziz Yari, were not mentioned.
El-Rufai suggested that political considerations, including Kwankwaso’s refusal to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), may be driving the scrutiny.
On national issues, El-Rufai expressed concern over Nigeria’s current challenges, urging citizens to critically assess political narratives and focus on the protection of all Nigerians, irrespective of faith.
“Whether Christian or Muslim, everyone is at risk. That is what we should be worried about,” he said, dismissing claims of genocide as domestic politics in the US rather than a reflection of Nigerian reality.
