Manny Ita –
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has clarified that his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election was purely political and not rooted in any personal relationship, dismissing widespread speculation of a close personal alliance between the two leaders.
Speaking amid renewed discussions about internal dynamics within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), El-Rufai stated that his backing of Tinubu was guided strictly by political calculations and party considerations. “My support for President Tinubu in 2023 was strictly political,” he said. “It was not based on personal friendship or any close personal relationship as some have suggested.”
The former governor emphasized that political endorsements, particularly at the presidential level, are often driven by strategic interests and alignment of visions rather than personal bonds. According to him, narratives portraying his relationship with the President as deeply personal are inaccurate. “Politics is about interests, ideas, and strategy. It should not be confused with personal friendship,” he added.
El-Rufai, a prominent figure within the APC and a key player during the party’s campaign machinery in 2023, was widely seen as one of Tinubu’s influential northern backers at the time. His recent remarks, however, appear aimed at drawing a clear distinction between political cooperation and personal affinity.
The statement comes amid ongoing political realignments and heightened scrutiny of alliances within the ruling party, especially as discussions around governance performance and future electoral strategies begin to gather momentum.
Observers say El-Rufai’s clarification may be intended to recalibrate public perception of his political positioning while reinforcing the idea that support within party structures is often transactional and policy-driven rather than personal.
Neither the Presidency nor close aides to President Tinubu have publicly responded to El-Rufai’s remarks as of press time.
