𝗘𝗹-𝗥𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗶 𝘃𝘀 𝗡𝘂𝗵𝘂 𝗥𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗱𝘂: 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗯𝘂’𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹

Mr. Akin Osuntokun, former Political Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Director-General of the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, has weighed in on the ongoing political debate surrounding former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News PRIMETIME, Osuntokun alleged that political strategists around President Bola Tinubu may be quietly assessing public sentiment between key northern political figures ahead of the 2027 general election cycle. According to him, discussions around El-Rufai and Ribadu reflect deeper calculations within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party evaluates future leadership dynamics.

Osuntokun suggested that the rivalry being portrayed in political circles could be interpreted as an informal “opinion poll,” gauging which figure commands stronger grassroots support and broader acceptability within the party and across the country. He noted that both men possess significant political influence — El-Rufai with his reputation as a reform-minded administrator and Ribadu with his current national security profile and past anti-corruption credentials.

The former presidential adviser also warned against framing the conversation purely as a political contest, stressing that Nigeria’s political landscape remains fluid and alliances could shift before the next election season. He added that public discourse around potential contenders often reflects speculation rather than confirmed political alignments.

While neither the presidency nor the individuals mentioned have officially commented on the claims, analysts believe debates like these highlight the early maneuvering already underway within Nigeria’s political class ahead of 2027.