Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed the one-term presidency pledge of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, calling it unrealistic and unconvincing to Nigerians.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, El-Rufai argued that no serious reforms or meaningful changes could be made within a single four-year term. He also urged politicians to stop making promises they cannot realistically fulfil.
“On the question of people saying they will come out and do one term, I don’t think that anyone believes them and I don’t think that it’s right,” he said.
Citing his experience as a two-term governor, El-Rufai pointed out that both Obi and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi have also served in similar capacities and should understand that four years is not enough for transformative governance.
“They know the time it takes to make meaningful changes in governance. Four years is not enough. I want to appeal to everyone to stop making this commitment of ‘I will do four years’ because nobody believes you,” El-Rufai added.
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Opposition alliance to challenge APC
In a related discussion, El-Rufai revealed that he and other key opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi, are uniting under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of a broader coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, said their collective political experience gives them the upper hand in challenging the current administration.
“We formed the APC; we know where the dead body is buried. Some of them, like Atiku, know where the PDP’s dead body is buried. Together we can face APC,” he said.
He dismissed the need for “totally different people from nowhere” to take on the ruling party, suggesting that experienced political heavyweights like himself and Atiku are better positioned to lead the charge.
Criticism of Tinubu’s administration
The former governor didn’t hold back in criticising the Tinubu-led government, particularly on the state of the economy and national security. He stated that things have deteriorated further under the current administration.
“The economy and security are worse off under President Tinubu,” El-Rufai lamented.
This marks one of El-Rufai’s strongest public criticisms of the administration he once helped bring to power and reflects the growing cracks within Nigeria’s political elite ahead of the 2027 elections.
As of now, the Presidency and the APC have yet to respond to El-Rufai’s comments.
