Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, has sparked speculation about a potential political realignment involving Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Bashir suggested that Obi might join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing him as “surprisingly not a bad person after all.”
The hint came in response to a post by a user, @Freedom42602077, who argued that the SDP would struggle to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election unless it aligns with Peter Obi. The user wrote, “Bro to bro, if Peter Obi is not in that party, they can’t win the presidential election. APC will have it again!”
Reacting to the post, Bashir cryptically replied, “He is coming.” In another post, he expressed a change of heart about Obi, stating, “Peter Obi is surprisingly not a bad person after all. My views on him have changed recently. My mind was poisoned by my former party members. Sai Obi!”
Bashir’s remarks have fueled widespread speculation about ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. Many are now questioning whether Peter Obi, who garnered significant support in the 2023 presidential race, is considering a move to the SDP to strengthen the party’s chances against the APC.
The development comes in the wake of Bashir’s father, Nasir El-Rufai, resigning from the APC and declaring allegiance to the SDP. The former Kaduna governor cited a disconnect between his personal values and the APC’s current direction as the reason for his defection.
As political tensions rise, Bashir’s comments have added a new layer of intrigue to Nigeria’s evolving political landscape. Observers are now closely watching to see if Peter Obi will indeed join forces with the SDP, a move that could significantly alter the dynamics of the 2027 elections.