Nasir el-Rufai, the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State governor, has emphasized the strategic importance of Kano in national politics, describing it as indispensable to any meaningful political movement due to its consistently high voter engagement.
El-Rufai made these remarks during a visit to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, at his palace on Monday.
Having recently parted ways with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to align with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), el-Rufai stressed that Nigeria is in dire need of a credible political alternative capable of steering the country away from deepening crises.
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“Kano is critical to any serious political formation because of its consistently high voter turnout,” he said.
He explained that following his defection to the SDP, it was essential to reach out to stakeholders in Kano, given its influence in determining political outcomes.
“Twelve years ago, we merged three major parties to form the APC and defeated an incumbent president. But now, the goal is different.
“We are bringing together disaffected members across political divides under an existing platform — the SDP — which we believe has the best pedigree and potential.”
El-Rufai stated that his decision to join the SDP was motivated by a desire to support the establishment of a truly democratic platform, devoid of the influence of political godfather. He blamed the collapse of internal structures within both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on entrenched godfatherism and systemic dysfunction.
“We have seen how godfatherism destroyed the PDP and is now wrecking the APC. Nigerians deserve a party built on fairness, internal democracy, and equal opportunity; the SDP can be that alternative,” he said.
Although he previously supported the idea of rotating leadership across regions, el-Rufai said the country’s current realities demand that leadership be based on competence and the ability to deliver results, rather than regional background.
Commenting on the ongoing defection of politicians — including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori — to the APC, el-Rufai said he remained unfazed by such moves. He expressed confidence that true power lies with the people, not political elites.
“A governor only has one vote. Elections are won by the people, not by politicians. Our focus is on mobilising ordinary Nigerians, not chasing high-profile defections,” he said.
“You are seeing northern energy because we’re currently in Kano, but I have been engaging leaders across Lagos, Anambra, and the South-South. “Nation-building is grassroots work, not media shows. You’ll see the results when the time is right.”
He also revealed that discussions are ongoing with five major political blocs as part of efforts to create a unified and formidable opposition coalition under the SDP umbrella.
“It’s a broader national movement for disillusioned Nigerians. Progress is being made, although I had to move faster in Kaduna because many of my political associates needed an immediate platform,” he said.
According to el-Rufai, his political decisions have always been anchored in national interest rather than personal loyalty or partisan allegiance.
“When things began to go wrong under President Buhari, I wrote to him warning about the dangers – and when the naira redesign policy also hurt Nigerians,” he said. “I challenged it in court, even though it was an APC-led government. I have never been loyal to individuals over the nation.”
He urged Nigerian youths not to lose faith in the country’s future and encouraged them to become actively involved in efforts to build a better nation.
