Yan Nigeria
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has cast doubt on the willingness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Bola Tinubu-led administration to approve the registration of a new political party for the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Monday, El-Rufai said the coalition, made up of opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is actively considering the creation of a new party to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but fears government interference could stall the process.
He said, “Many of us do not believe that under the current leadership of INEC, a new party will be registered because Dr. Mahmoud Yakubu is not Jega, and President Tinubu is not Jonathan. Those were the people in charge when the APC was registered.”
El-Rufai explained that despite their scepticism, members of the coalition are determined to test the waters and expose what they perceive as a compromised electoral body.
He said, “Many were pessimistic about the prospects of registering a new party. But we said, let’s try it anyway. Let’s show that INEC is not independent. Let’s show that this government is interfering to ensure there is no opposition.
“So we are pursuing both paths. And if both become available, then the leadership will sit down, consult, and take their views to the plenary, and a decision will be taken.”
El-Rufai revealed that the coalition is currently torn between resurrecting an existing party, such as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) or African Democratic Congress (ADC), or registering a new platform known as the African Democratic Assembly (ADA).
He said the coalition’s strategy is rooted in flexibility, ensuring that all options are on the table to build a united and credible opposition force.
The former minister emphasised that the ongoing coalition talks are not party-based, but rather driven by individuals who hold influence within their respective political regions.
He clarified, “We are not engaging in a merger.
“I am part of the leadership, but I’m not there representing SDP. I’m there as an individual with some political weight, no matter how small, in my state or in the Northwest. So this is how the coalition is formed. It has nothing to do with parties.”
He added that once a platform is chosen, coalition members will leave their current political parties and move en masse to the agreed vehicle.
“We all agreed that if we are able to come to a consensus about the political party to go into, we will leave our parties and join with all our followers,” he said.
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