2027: El-Rufai Refutes Claims of Supporting Southern Presidential Candidate

Story: written by zARA december 15,2025
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed circulating reports suggesting he is backing a Southern presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, denying any abandonment of Atiku Abubakar, a Northern aspirant.

Social media narratives had claimed that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain was shifting his support to the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, asserting it was “the South’s turn” to produce the president.

In a statement released on Monday, El-Rufai described the reports as “false, despite their widespread circulation,” clarifying that he had never made such endorsements in speeches, interviews, or on social media.

“I maintain my own verified social media platforms where I express my opinions directly. No statement or view should be attributed to me unless it comes explicitly from my verified channels or interviews with reputable media,” he said.

El-Rufai further emphasized that sharing opinion articles from other authors on his platforms does not imply endorsement. He stressed the importance of distinguishing between his personal views and content shared for public discourse.

“The deliberate attribution of statements I did not make by misleading platforms should not be treated as credible. In today’s climate of misinformation, it is essential to verify information before publication. Society suffers when media leaders neglect this responsibility and amplify false narratives,” he added.

The former governor urged journalists and the public to exercise caution and uphold accuracy in reporting, warning against the misuse of social media to spread unverified claims.