El-Rufai's Defection: List of Former Governors Allegedly Plotting Coalition Against Tinubu

• President Bola Tinubu's chances in the 2027 presidential election may not be as certain as expected as some former governors are reportedly forming a coalition against him
• The plot against Tinubu ahead of 2027 emerged following the defection of the immediate past governor of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai, from the APC to the SDP
• El-Rufai, who is a former President Muhammadu Buhari's loyalist, had called on the opposition to unite and unseat President Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 election

FCT, Abuja - The defection of the immediate past governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Monday, March 10, has started revealing possible mass defection from the ruling party.

El-Rufai, widely regarded as one of former President Muhammadu Buhari's loyalists, claimed that the current trajectory of the APC no longer aligned with his values, prompting his decision to leave the ruling party for the SDP.

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The former governor, who has become a major critic of President Bola Tinubu, said he informed the former president about his plan to dump the APC for the SDP. The former governor also hinted about the coalition that would unseat President Tinubu in the 2027 general election as he alleged lack of internal democracy in the APC.

El-Rufai criticised over allegation against APC

"One should take his sudden opposition activism with a grain of salt. Did he just realize the APC is undemocratic? Or is it because he did not fit into the party."

Speaking on El-Rufai's allegation of lack of internal democracy in the APC, Omotayo Yusuf, a political analyst, in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, noted that the claim should be taken with a grain of salt. He said:

According to The Punch, a highly credible source has mentioned the names of former governors who are part of the coalition to unseat the APC and President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The names of these politicians are:

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Rotimi Amaechi

Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers state and ex-minister of transportation under the immediate past President Buhari, was one of the founding members of the APC, having joined the party at its inception from the New Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former Rivers governor contested the APC presidential ticket and came second in the party's primary ahead of the 2023 election. Since the end of the 2023 poll, the ex-minister has not been finding his feet in the party.

Emeka Ihedioha

The former governor of Imo state, who dumped the PDP in April 2024 over the opposition's internal crisis, has been suspected to be a covert member of the APC and was revealed to be part of the new coalition that has been talked about.

Ihedioha, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, was elected the Governor of Imo state in the 2019 general election. However, Ihedioha was sacked by the Supreme Court, which subsequently declared Hope Uzodimma of the APC as the winner of the election.

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Liyel Imoke

Imoke is the former governor of Cross River state under the PDP. He is one of the loyalists of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and has been mentioned to be part of the coalition, who may join El-Rufai in the SDP.

The former governor might have been part of the coalition because of the internal crisis rocking the PDP. The leading opposition has been having an internal crisis since the outcome of the 2023 election, and President Tinubu has been accused of meddling with the party's internal affairs.

Aminu Tambuwal

The immediate past governor of Sokoto and ex-speaker of the House of Representatives has also been mentioned as one of the former governors who are forming a coalition to unseat Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Like Imoke, Tambuwal is another loyalist of Atiku. He stepped down for the former vice president in the PDP presidential primary election, which eventually paved the way for him to become the party's flagbearer in the 2023 election.

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Rauf Aregbesola

The former Governor of Osun state fell out with President Tinubu over the choice of candidate in the 2022 governorship election in Osun state. Aregbesola allegedly bagged PDP candidate Ademola Adeleke against his party's choice and incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola, which led to the loss of APC in Osun.

Aregbesola also served as the minister of interior under Buhari's administration and was said to have held a closed-door meeting with El-Rufai, 24 hours before the latter dumped the APC for the SDP.

APC presidential campaign team member joined SDP

Legit.ng earlier reported that former APC presidential campaign member in the 2023 elections, Obinna Simon, has dumped the party for the SDP.

Simon, who is an entertainer, youth leader and businessman, said he dumped the APC for the SDP because the ruling party was not rewarding loyalty.

He described the SDP as a party that appreciated youth inclusion, promoted internal democracy and valued loyalty.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng