Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, says the ongoing wave of defections among governors will not stop Nigerians from choosing new leaders in 2027.
El-Rufai, an African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, spoke in Jos, the capital of Plateau, on Wednesday at the unveiling of the party’s national contact and mobilisation office.
He said while governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are moving to the All Progressives Congress (APC), ordinary Nigerians are shifting their support to the ADC.
The former governor said the party has the capacity to bring unity to Plateau and Nigeria if it wins the 2027 elections.
“Forty years ago, I was visiting Plateau every week because my fiancée did her national youth service here in Jos,” Daily Trust quoted el-Rufai as saying.
“Even after marriage, we visited Jos regularly for weekends, but since then things have gone in the wrong direction in Jos and Plateau.
“I hope that with better leadership at the state and national level, we will be able to unite the people of Plateau state across ethnic and religious lines so that Plateau state can be that home of peace and tourism that we have known it to be.
“We pray God gives us the ability to unite you. I know that everyone is tired of this APC and PDP government across the country.
“Governors from PDP are defecting to APC, but Nigerians are defecting to ADC; by God’s grace, 230 million Nigerians will defeat 25 governors.
“Nigerians have decided that in 2027 they will vote for ADC. What is ahead of us is to unite and bring all party members together—to bring our very good candidates and good policies that will help all Nigerians.
“All of you here have a role to play. ADC is the only party that reserves 40 percent of leadership positions for youth and 35 percent of leadership positions for women; it is a party for young people and women.”
Jamilu Datti, Plateau coordinator of the ADC contact and mobilisation office, implored youths to rally round the party.
