2027 Political Realignments: Opposition Moves To Challenge APC as El-Rufai Leads Defection To SDP

With the 2027 general election approaching, Nigerian politicians are intensifying alliances, mergers, and coalition-building.

While President Bola Tinubu’s administration consolidates power, opposition figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) are strategizing to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The APC, however, is not complacent. It has been actively expanding its influence, wooing opposition lawmakers to defect. Despite this, internal discontent among some APC chieftains who feel sidelined in the Tinubu administration has led to high-profile defections, notably that of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to the SDP.

El-Rufai, once a key APC figure, had hoped to secure the vice-presidential ticket in 2023 but was overlooked in favor of Senator Kashim Shettima. His strained relationship with the party worsened after he was dropped from Tinubu’s ministerial list.

At a recent national conference, El-Rufai criticized the APC’s governance style, alleging a lack of internal democracy and describing the state of opposition in Nigeria as a “national emergency.”

He declared that the North where he believes voting power lies would not back Tinubu in 2027, a claim dismissed by APC leaders, including National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje.

Now leading efforts to unite opposition parties under the SDP, El-Rufai has vowed to challenge APC in all upcoming elections, setting the stage for an intense political battle ahead of 2027.