- Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State governor, has emerged as a key player in the plot to stop President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid in 2027.
El-Rufai’s recent defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has sparked intense political activity. Just two days after his defection, his supporters stormed the SDP’s Abuja National Headquarters, calling for the removal of Dr. Olu Agunloye as National Secretary.
The protesters accused Agunloye of fraud, citing his ongoing trial over an alleged $6 billion fraud related to the Mambilla power project. This development has forced Agunloye to seek police protection.
Analysts suggest that El-Rufai’s allies are driving the demand for Agunloye’s exit, fearing his past links to Tinubu and ethnic identity could hinder their goal of stopping the president’s second term bid.
The SDP’s internal conflict reflects broader concerns about the opposition’s prospects against Tinubu, who secured the presidency in 2023 despite internal challenges. Some speculate that Tinubu may have already infiltrated the SDP, which was reportedly his “Plan B” had he not won the APC presidential ticket in 2022.
