…Says Obi-northern ticket will defeat Tinubu before breakfast
By Eshiorameh Sebastian in Abuja
A social media post by Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, has sparked fresh political speculation about a potential alliance between Peter Obi and northern power brokers ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the younger El-Rufai downplayed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s chances in 2027. While acknowledging that Atiku ‘is a force to be reckoned with,’ he argued that a Labour Party ticket pairing Peter Obi with a strong northern running mate would easily defeat President Bola Tinubu.
“Atiku is a force to be reckoned with. He also feels the stars have finally aligned in his favour. And although 2019 is thought to have been his best shot, this may be one of those ‘moment meets the man”, Bashir wrote.
However, he noted that Obi’s popularity among young voters could upend traditional calculations.
He said: “The sheer force of Obi’s numbers and cult-like followership brings a challenge. His appeal across the youth and this younger generation is one profound aspect of his leverage.”
In a striking prediction, he added: “Obi as a flagbearer with a strong northern candidate would defeat … on election day before our dear mother of the nation—Aunty Remi—finishes his breakfast around 12 noon.”
The remark, seen as a veiled jab at Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu, has fuelled discussions about a possible opposition realignment.
The post gains significance given recent political manoeuvres by Bashir’s father, Nasir El-Rufai, a former ally of Atiku Abubakar. Earlier this year, the ex-governor suggested that a southern candidate should replace Tinubu in 2027, serving a single four-year term to “balance” Nigeria’s power rotation formula.
This aligns with Peter Obi’s own public offer to serve only one term if elected.
Political analysts now speculate that El-Rufai may be positioning himself as Obi’s running mate, particularly after his March 2024 exit from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
El-rufai joined SDP in April where is currently having membership row with some members of the party opposed to his style of politics.
His son’s latest remarks appear to lend weight to theories of an emerging Obi-El-Rufai alliance.
Further complicating the 2027 landscape are rumours of Obi’s possible return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he was Atiku Abubakar’s vice-presidential candidate in 2019.
After leaving the PDP in 2022, Obi joined the Labour Party and finished third in the 2023 presidential election—despite an unprecedented youth-driven campaign. Obi has denied rumours of plans to return to the PDP, instead he has expressed his commitment to the newly formed coalition under the ADC.
With with less than two years until the next election, Nigeria’s political chessboard appears in flux. If Bashir El-Rufai’s comments reflect behind-the-scenes negotiations, 2027 may indeed see an unexpected coalition—one that could redefine the race for the nation’s plum job.
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