A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a strong appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to immediately mend fences and bring former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, back into the presidential political camp.
A Strategic Move for the North-West
Mallam Salihu Isa Nataro, a former APC governorship candidate in Kebbi State and an advocate for public sector reform, made this call on 9 January 2026. He argued that the ongoing realignment of political forces in Northern Nigeria makes this move critically important. Nataro pointed out that with the removal of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the APC national chairman, the crucial North-West zone currently lacks a strong political ally for President Tinubu.
He expressed concern over speculation that former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, might join a coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Nataro stated that even if the incumbent Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, were to defect to the APC, a significant vacuum for zonal political influence would still remain. According to him, el-Rufai's regional influence is key to filling this gap and boosting Tinubu's electoral prospects in the region.
Addressing Past Criticisms and Highlighting Strengths
While acknowledging the estrangement between el-Rufai and the Tinubu camp, which he blamed on envy and political detractors, Nataro addressed the former governor's record. He identified what he called the only major error in el-Rufai's public service: the use of foreign loans to finance urban beautification projects in Kaduna State.
"The narrative should have been different if el-Rufai had invested that huge loan amount to reform education and agriculture or establish cottage industries in the state," Nataro remarked. However, he was quick to add that this single misstep does not overshadow el-Rufai's excellent performance as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration.
A Reliable Ticket for 2027
Nataro positioned a potential Tinubu and el-Rufai alliance as an unbeatable combination for the next election cycle. He made a bold claim, stating, "A Tinubu/El-Rufai joint ticket is reliable and cannot be surmounted by any other, even if Goodluck Jonathan joins the race."
He further reasoned that, according to Nigeria's Constitution, former President Jonathan has already completed his maximum two terms. Even if a legal pathway were found, Nataro doubted Jonathan would select a running mate from the North-West, as Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has already emerged as a national chairman from the zone.
Concluding his appeal, Nataro, describing himself as one of Tinubu's ardent supporters in the region, said, "There is much work to be done in the North-West geopolitical zone to properly market my boss, Tinubu. And I am convinced that el-Rufai can play that role effectively... el-Rufai should be brought back to his camp now." This call underscores the intense political calculations already shaping the landscape for the 2027 general elections.
