Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has made a surprising shift in his stance on Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Once a vocal critic, Bashir now describes Obi as “a great potential President or VP,” citing a change in perspective after distancing himself from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a post on X, he admitted that his previous criticism of the former Anambra State governor was influenced by APC members.
“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,” Bashir wrote.
This unexpected turnaround comes amid major political shifts involving his father, Nasir El-Rufai, who recently announced his resignation from the APC and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai, a former key figure in the ruling party, cited ideological differences as his reason for leaving, stating that the APC leadership had deviated from its founding principles.
“Developments in the last two years confirm that those who currently control and run the APC do not desire to acknowledge, much less address, the party’s unhealthy situation,” he said in a statement.
Following extensive consultations, he opted to align with the SDP, positioning himself to play a major role in shaping the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
His move is seen as part of a broader effort to consolidate opposition forces against the APC.
El-Rufai’s political realignment sparked speculations, particularly after his recent meetings with key political figures, including former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and Pastor Tunde Bakare.
These interactions hint at ongoing discussions about potential alliances leading up to the next election cycle.
