In a shocking revelation, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai has admitted that he and other politicians knew about Tinubu’s Chicago academic controversy before supporting him. Read full details on his bombshell admission and 2027 political moves.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has made a startling revelation, admitting that he and other top politicians knew about the controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic records from Chicago State University but still supported his presidential bid in 2023.
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), made this admission during an interview with BBC Hausa. According to him, despite the issues surrounding Tinubu’s academic credentials, they believed he had the capacity to replicate his past achievements as the governor of Lagos State.
Why We Backed Tinubu Despite His Chicago Controversy – El-Rufai
“What pains me is that the government we supported, and had confidence in, is not performing as expected. We know what Tinubu did in Lagos, and we were all aware of the Chicago issue, but we said if he could make Nigeria great like he did Lagos, we would support him,” El-Rufai disclosed.
This shocking admission raises questions about the credibility of Tinubu’s academic records, a controversy that had dominated political discussions in the buildup to the 2023 elections. Tinubu has consistently maintained that he attended Chicago State University, but court documents and public scrutiny have cast doubts on the authenticity of his certificates.
El-Rufai’s Defection and 2027 Political Moves
El-Rufai’s revelation comes barely weeks after he officially dumped the APC for the SDP on March 10, 2025. Since his defection, he has been working tirelessly to build an opposition force against the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former governor has been reaching out to key political figures, including Pastor Tunde Bakare and ex-Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola, a former close ally of Tinubu. He has also extended invitations to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, urging them to join the SDP to form a formidable coalition against the APC.
El-Rufai Speaks on 2027 Presidential Ambition
Amid speculation that his defection is a strategic move to position himself for the 2027 presidential race, El-Rufai dismissed the claims, stating that the decision to contest lies with the party and the people.
“It is not for me to decide; it is the party and the people that will decide. Even when I was contesting for governor, it was people who met and convinced Buhari, and he called me to contest,” El-Rufai explained.
His comments, however, have not silenced speculation, as political analysts believe he is strategically positioning himself for a major political showdown in 2027.
With his recent bombshell confession about Tinubu’s academic scandal, coupled with his aggressive political rebranding, the coming months promise to be intriguing as El-Rufai and his new allies gear up for a fierce battle against the APC in 2027.
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