El-Rufai backs Tinubu’s 2027 re-election

Amid Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has pledged his full support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid—even as his father defects to the opposition.

Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit held in Abuja, Bello, who currently serves as a member of the House of Representatives for Kaduna North, publicly endorsed Tinubu’s second-term ambition, affirming his loyalty to the ruling party.

His endorsement comes barely two months after his father, Nasir El-Rufai, formally dumped the APC in March 2025. The former governor cited a divergence in political ideology as his reason for joining the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he vowed to help build a formidable opposition capable of unseating the APC in 2027.

The younger El-Rufai’s stance has triggered widespread reactions on social media and within political circles. Notably, controversial activist Reno Omokri ridiculed the situation, stating, “If El-Rufai can’t convince his son to leave Tinubu, how will he convince Nigerians?”

The political divide within the El-Rufai family deepened last year when another son, Bashir El-Rufai, took to social media to lash out at President Tinubu and Kaduna Governor Uba Sani. Bashir predicted electoral defeat for both men in 2027 and accused them of orchestrating a politically motivated probe into his father over alleged mismanagement of N423 billion.

“Nobody is too big to be elected out of office by the people. It will happen, and wallahi, nothing will happen,” Bashir tweeted at the time, calling on citizens to resist political intimidation.

As 2027 draws closer, the El-Rufai family’s internal political drama continues to capture public attention.