‘He’s a democrat’: Presidency clarifies when Tinubu will hand over power after El-Rufai’s life presidency claim

The presidency has reacted to the recent assertion by former Kaduna governor, Nasir-El-Rufai, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is plotting to become Nigeria’s life president if re-elected in 2027.

El-Rufai made this statement during a recent visit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to his home.

The visit followed an incident at the inauguration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State, where El-Rufai was reportedly attacked by APC-aligned supporters.

Speaking during the visit, El-Rufai said “this government is trying to centralize everything instead of devolving powers to the lower levels but the sum total of this is that we are facing an evil of a large proportion in the history of this country that if we don’t come together to end this Tinubu administration in 2027, Tinubu will try to be our Paul Biya, he would be president for life, all the signs are there, this is how Paul Biya started.”

In response, the Presidency said El-Rufai “appears to need some help” then describing El-Rufai statement as “baseless,” “absurd,” and a clear sign of political desperation.

Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, in a tweet on Monday, accused El-Rufai of spreading falsehoods and engaging in what he called “hallucinations and political fabrications” aimed at discrediting the President ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to Onanuga, El-Rufai was unsettled by the large show of support President Tinubu received during his recent visit to Kaduna contradicting El-Rufai’s claims that the North had turned against the President.

Onanuga alleged that El-Rufai and his allies, now affiliated with a new political party, are engaged in a failed attempt to undermine Tinubu’s support base in the North.

Their efforts, Onanuga said, are “unattainable,” and “a mission doomed to fail.”

“President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027,” Onanuga said.

Taking a direct jab at El-Rufai, Onanuga advised incumbent Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to intervene, stating, “Governor Uba Sani may wish to reach out to his predecessor, as El-Rufai could benefit from some professional counselling.”