El-Rufai Thumbs Down Atiku’s 2027 Ambition, Says It Is The Turn Of  The South

 

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

“I Will contest for the Presidential Seat in 2031” – El-Rufai

Amidst uncertainty sorrounding the zoning of the 2027  Presidential slot to the Southern part of the country within the nascent opposition Coalition platform, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has settled the issue.

In a post on the official site of ADC News on  Saturday, El-Rufai one of the leading figures in the ADC informed that he has remained quiet and inactive in the run up to the 2027 Presidential battle because the slot is still domiciled in the Southern part of the country until 2031.

He noted that he also refrained from throwing his hat into the ring in 2023 owing to the same zoning arrangement which excluded his Northern region from the race after eight years of late President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration.

However, he expressed the confidence that he must surely be on the ballot in the race  for the highest office in the land come 2031.

“I refused to contest in 2027 because it is the turn of the South.

“You will see me in action come 2031”, he was quoted by the ADC News.

Instructively , El-Rufai’s position is coming at a time when the speculated ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a Northerner, appears to be threatening the cohesion and the ability of the ADC to meaningfully challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Not a few people are of the firm conviction that the fielding of a strong and vibrant presidential candidate from the Southern region will potentially pose a handful for President Tinubu.

However, Atiku’s ambition which has been confirmed by a known ally, Dele Momodu, has continued to pose as a major threat to the unity of purpose expected of the ADC.

The inability of the ADC National leadership to decisively resolve the zoning conundrum has reportedly been responsible for delaying Peter Obi and some others from fully committing themselves to the party.

So far, the ADC in the face of the comatose state of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, remains the one sure rallying point for those Nigerians who may not be favourably disposed to the second term ambition of the President.