Tinubu’s Ex-Allies Now Oppose His 2027 Re-election Bid

Abuja, Nigeria —Former Political Allies Turn Critics as Tinubu Faces Mounting Opposition Ahead of 2027 Elections

As Nigeria gears up for the 2027 general elections, political dynamics are shifting sharply, with President Bola Tinubu now facing stiff opposition from former allies, trusted associates, and longtime protégés who once championed his rise to power.

In a development that signals growing internal divisions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), several prominent political figures who supported Tinubu’s 2023 presidential bid have since distanced themselves from his administration — and, in some cases, actively oppose his re-election.

Among the most vocal of these is former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who was instrumental in the APC’s support for zoning the presidency to the South. Once an ardent backer of Tinubu, El-Rufai recently resigned from the APC and joined the Social Democratic Party, citing irreconcilable differences and accusing the ruling party of abandoning its founding values.

“Those who currently control and run the APC do not desire to acknowledge, much less address, the party’s unhealthy situation,” El-Rufai stated, adding that he could no longer remain in a party that disregards internal accountability. He has since emerged as a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration, questioning the competence of government appointees and predicting Tinubu’s defeat in 2027.

Similarly, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola — once a close political ally and commissioner under Tinubu — has aligned with opposition leader Atiku Abubakar. His rift with Tinubu deepened after the 2022 Osun governorship race, when his faction refused to support Tinubu’s nephew, Gboyega Oyetola. Analysts suggest the fallout significantly influenced Tinubu’s poor showing in Lagos during the 2023 presidential election.

Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi also appears to have distanced himself from the president. Though he supported the APC in 2023 despite losing the presidential ticket to Tinubu, Amaechi has become critical of Tinubu’s economic policies, describing rising hardship under the administration as unacceptable and urging Nigerians to act decisively in the next election.

In a similar vein, Abubakar Malami, a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who had once publicly praised Tinubu as a worthy successor to Buhari, has also joined those skeptical of Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Also in opposition is Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Once aligned with Tinubu, Lawal has since become one of the administration’s fiercest critics — citing worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and ethno-religious imbalance in governance.

This wave of dissent reflects a broader struggle within the ruling party, as cracks widen between loyalists and defectors over the direction of national leadership.

By Adeola Olaniya | July 14, 2025