Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has weighed in on Nigeria’s evolving political climate ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the moment as a critical test for the country’s democracy and the accountability of those in power.

 

Speaking during an interview on Trust TV, El-Rufai said recent political developments across party lines show that Nigeria’s political landscape is undergoing rapid change, exposing deeper tensions within the democratic system.

 

He revealed that his absence from the country in the period leading up to recent protests limited his ability to physically align with opposition figures pushing for reforms. According to him, he would have preferred to be present to demonstrate solidarity and support efforts aimed at safeguarding the electoral process.

 

El-Rufai said he intended to stand alongside Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and other political leaders at the National Assembly, where they sought legislative intervention to strengthen electoral integrity and reduce manipulation during result collation.

 

He identified real-time and compulsory electronic transmission of election results as a crucial reform, stressing that it remains the most effective way to close loopholes that enable manipulation at collation centres nationwide.

 

According to him, the demand for electronic transmission is not about gaining partisan advantage but about rebuilding public trust in elections. He warned that without transparent systems, Nigerians would continue to doubt whether their votes truly count.

 

His remarks followed a recent protest led by Peter Obi—now of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—alongside civil society organisations, who converged on the National Assembly to demand urgent action on electoral reforms.

 

The protesters called for the immediate passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025, which seeks to make electronic transmission of results from polling units mandatory and legally binding. Supporters of the bill argued that flaws in previous elections were worsened by weak enforcement, allowing manual collation to become a vulnerable stage for result manipulation.

 

Reacting to the broader political realignments ahead of 2027, El-Rufai said the developments clearly expose a struggle between entrenched political interests and ordinary Nigerians seeking transparent governance and credible elections.

 

Using strong language to underline his point, he said: “Let all the governors move to APC. It’s very good because it defines clearly what 2027 is all about. It is the people versus the gang of thieves, those that have been stealing from Nigeria’s resources since 2023, against the people of Nigeria.”

 

El-Rufai’s comments have added to the growing national debate on electoral reforms and the direction of Nigeria’s democracy as the countdown to the 2027 elections continues.