Bello El-rufai backs Tinubu for 2027, defies father’s SDP defection

The political divide within the family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has deepened as his son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, publicly endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, despite his father’s recent defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Bello, a serving member of the House of Representatives for Kaduna North Federal Constituency, was present at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit in Abuja, where the party formally declared Tinubu as its sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The younger El-Rufai’s open show of loyalty to Tinubu stands in stark contrast to his father’s departure from the ruling APC.

In March 2025, Nasir El-Rufai resigned from the party, stating that it had “abandoned its founding ideals” and was no longer aligned with his principles. He subsequently joined the SDP, vowing to galvanize opposition forces to unseat the APC in the next general elections.

Speaking after the APC summit, Bello reaffirmed his commitment to the party’s leadership and to President Tinubu’s re-election agenda. “I believe in the Renewed Hope agenda and the direction Mr. President is taking the country,” he told journalists. “We are building a future rooted in democratic continuity and stability.”

The family’s public political rift has triggered strong reactions, particularly on social media and among political commentators. Notably, activist Reno Omokri took to X (formerly Twitter) to ridicule the contradiction, stating:

“If El-Rufai can’t convince his own son to leave Tinubu, how will he convince Nigerians?”

This latest development is not the first sign of political tension in the El-Rufai household.

In 2024, another of Nasir El-Rufai’s sons, Bashir El-Rufai, launched scathing online attacks against President Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, accusing them of political vendettas and failed leadership.

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Reacting to the EFCC’s ongoing probe into alleged mismanagement of N423 billion during his father’s administration, Bashir denounced the investigation as “politically motivated.”

In a now-viral post, he wrote: “Nobody is too big to be ‘elected out of office’ by the people. It will happen & wallahi nothing will happen. So forget all these intimidations flying up and down. Let us be patient.”

The stark division in the El-Rufai family highlights broader fissures within Nigeria’s political class as the 2027 elections draw closer. While Nasir El-Rufai is positioning himself as a central figure in efforts to unite the opposition, his son’s endorsement of Tinubu could undercut his political credibility and messaging.

Political analysts suggest that this internal contradiction may weaken El-Rufai’s influence in forging a unified anti-APC coalition.

“When your own household sends mixed signals, it complicates your public stance,” said Dr. Zainab Musa, a political science lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University. “It feeds into the perception of disunity and personal interest.”