APC Chieftain Sees El-Rufai’s Potential SDP Move As Boost For Party’s Electoral Chances

• Francis Okoye, APC South-East Coalition convener, unfazed by El-Rufai’s visit to SDP
• Suggests El-Rufai’s SDP candidacy could divide opposition, strengthen APC
• Envisions scenario where multiple opposition candidates benefit APC in 2027 elections

Eko Hot Blog reports that, in a surprising twist, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed confidence that the party stands to benefit electorally if former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, decides to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

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Francis Okoye, the convener of the APC South-East Coalition, reacted to El-Rufai’s recent visit to the SDP national secretariat, which fueled speculations about the former governor’s potential defection and presidential ambitions.

Okoye dismissed any cause for concern within the APC, asserting that El-Rufai’s departure, should it occur, would further divide the opposition and ultimately strengthen the ruling party’s position.

“For now, nobody will say that El-Rufai wants to leave APC or not, but if he really wants to leave, he is at liberty to do so,” Okoye stated. “Former Governor El-Rufai’s visit to the SDP National Secretariat and former President Yakubu Gowon calls for no alarm. We in the APC have nothing to worry about; rather, it will strengthen us as a party. The visit is further dividing the opposition instead of making them stronger.”

Okoye painted a hypothetical scenario where multiple opposition figures contest the 2027 elections on different party platforms, envisioning a clear path to victory for the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Assuming in 2027 El-Rufai flies the flag of the SDP, Kwankwaso flies that of the NNPP, Obi maintains the LP ticket, and Atiku continues with the PDP, it will mean a clean sweep of the poll for our party, the APC. So, worry not, my brother. We are not perturbed at all,” he asserted.

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The APC chieftain’s perspective highlights the party’s confidence in its ability to capitalize on potential divisions within the opposition ranks, regardless of the political maneuverings of influential figures like El-Rufai.

As the 2027 elections draw closer, the dynamics within Nigeria’s political landscape continue to evolve, with various actors positioning themselves for what promises to be a highly competitive and consequential electoral contest.

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