Executive Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai speaks during an interview with Reuters in Kaduna, Nigeria November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde - S1BEUKTKGYAA
Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has ruled out contesting for any political office in the 2027 general elections, insisting that his renewed political involvement is driven by the quest for credible leadership rather than personal ambition.
El-Rufai made the declaration in Kaduna on Wednesday while receiving a group of youths who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), under the leadership of Aliyu Bello.
The outspoken former governor took a swipe at the current administration, accusing it of failing Nigerians.
“This is a government that does nothing but lie every day. I am not contesting for anything; I don’t want to go to the Senate. That is why I am calling on you: let us join hands and ensure we remove the oppressors,” El-Rufai charged.
According to him, his original plan after leaving office was to retire quietly from partisan politics. However, he explained that the prevailing national realities compelled him to return, not as an aspirant, but as a mentor.
El-Rufai stressed that his focus going forward would be to groom young Nigerians, women, and reform-minded citizens to take up the mantle of leadership. He argued that the country could only be repositioned through the active involvement of new voices in governance.
“I have no personal ambition in 2027,” he reiterated. “My duty now is to encourage a new generation to step forward.”
The former governor also urged eligible Nigerians to register and vote, noting that meaningful political change could only be achieved through massive participation in the electoral process.
