ABUJA – A political division exists within one of Nigeria’s prominent families. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai son backs Tinubu, supporting the President’s re-election. This move contrasts with his father, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, a House of Representatives member for Kaduna North, showed his allegiance publicly. He attended an All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit in Abuja. At this summit, President Tinubu was endorsed as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
This difference in loyalty has drawn national attention. Nasir El-Rufai left the APC in March 2025. He said the party no longer reflected his values. Reno Omokri commented on the family’s political split. “If El-Rufai can’t convince his son to leave Tinubu, how will he convince Nigerians?” Omokri asked.
Father’s Political Shift Impacts APC
Nasir El-Rufai, a former APC leader, is now a key opposition voice with the SDP. He aims to unite opposition forces before the 2027 election. His stated goal is “to rescue Nigeria from a party that has lost its moral compass.” The move marks a significant shift in his politics. The fact that El-Rufai son backs Tinubu is a key aspect of this situation. “The APC I helped build has strayed from its founding principles,” the elder El-Rufai said at an SDP event.
Sibling Stands Firm, Alleges Persecution
The family’s political disagreements extend further. Another son, Bashir El-Rufai, criticized President Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani on social media. Bashir warned of electoral consequences in 2027. He also called an investigation into his father’s alleged N423 billion mismanagement a “politically driven witch hunt.”
“Nobody is too big to be elected out of office by the people… forget all these intimidations,” Bashir El-Rufai tweeted. This family discord is now a subject of national discussion. It reflects broader uncertainties and shifting loyalties in Nigeria’s politics before the next general election.
By Abiodun Labi
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