El-Rufai: ‘I Regret Bringing Tinubu To Office; Now We Must Get Him Out Before He Destroys Nigeria’

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has revealed that the recent decision by a coalition of opposition figures to establish a new political party ahead of the 2027 general elections was driven by fears of infiltration and sabotage by government-backed operatives.

In an interview with Arise TV on Monday, El-Rufai explained that the coalition initially considered adopting an existing political platform. However, concerns over internal destabilization allegedly sponsored by the federal government led to a unanimous decision to register an entirely new party.

“This government has planted viruses in opposition parties — funding factions and fueling crises within the PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP,” El-Rufai claimed. “To avoid internal sabotage, many coalition leaders agreed that the only solution was to start afresh.”

He revealed that the newly proposed party, named the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), was the result of a merger between three separate opposition blocs. These groups, he said, consolidated under a unified name, constitution, and logo.

According to El-Rufai, the coalition has already submitted the necessary documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for official registration, despite alleged attempts by the federal government to stall the process.

“We believe the government will try to obstruct the registration. But by law, if INEC fails to respond within a specified timeframe, the party is automatically considered registered,” he stated. “If INEC fails to act, we’ll expose their complicity.”

On SDP Membership and Opposition Unity

Addressing his recent defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), El-Rufai said it was a temporary move while the coalition finalized its collective strategy.

“When I joined the SDP, I made it clear it was provisional, pending the coalition’s final decision,” he said. “Atiku Abubakar is still in the PDP, Peter Obi is still in Labour. We’ll all leave our parties once a consensus is reached.”

While acknowledging the historical significance of the SDP, El-Rufai emphasized that uniting the opposition superseded individual preferences.

“The SDP has a noble legacy. But this isn’t about sentiment. It’s about Nigeria, and Nigerians are tired of the APC,” he said.

Criticism of Tinubu Administration

El-Rufai didn’t mince words about his disillusionment with the current government, led by President Bola Tinubu. He admitted to supporting Tinubu’s election but expressed regret.

“I helped bring Tinubu into office, and I regret it. Now, I want to help remove this administration before it completely wrecks Nigeria,” he stated.

He pointed to widespread dissatisfaction with the Tinubu government, claiming disapproval ratings as high as 91% in some regions.

“In the Southeast and parts of the North, Tinubu’s approval rating is just 9%. Even in Lagos, it’s only 22%. The people have rejected him,” he said.

El-Rufai also accused the administration of poor economic management, unveiling recycled projects, and operating an oversized and ineffective cabinet.

“This is the biggest cabinet in Nigeria’s history, yet only about five ministers are actually competent. The rest are clueless,” he said.

Call for a United Front

Labeling the ruling elite as “urban bandits,” El-Rufai urged opposition forces to unite in order to prevent further national decline.

“This ruling class is destroying the country. We must come together to stop them in 2027,” he concluded.