El-Rufai: Politicians Don't Decide Elections, the People Do

In a bold statement that cuts through the noise of political defections, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has insisted that election outcomes in Nigeria are determined by the people, not by presidents, governors, or political godfathers.

Addressing reporters in Kano State, El-Rufai, now a leader within the Social Democratic Party (SDP), dismissed the recent wave of high-profile defections as mere distractions. According to him, such moves may dominate headlines, but they have little impact on the true political dynamics at play.

“As far as I’m concerned, the defection of high-profile politicians is not the issue," El-Rufai said. "These defections are good for headlines and to sell newspapers, but politically on the ground, if you don’t have the people, your profile means nothing. We want to return politics to the people, not to godfathers or so-called high-profile politicians."

Emphasizing the supremacy of the electorate, El-Rufai pointed out that individual political figures, regardless of their stature, hold only one vote each.

"A governor has only one vote. Nigerians have millions. If the people say no, it’s over," he stressed.

Drawing examples from recent political history, El-Rufai reminded the public that even sitting governors could not guarantee election victories for favored candidates.

"Even the president had a sitting governor and still lost Lagos. I was governor of Kaduna State. I fought hard to deliver the president in my state, but I lost. Governors don’t determine election results; the people do."

His comments come amid reports that Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former PDP presidential running mate Ifeanyi Okowa have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Rumors also suggest that more members of parliament and state governors are considering switching to the APC.

However, El-Rufai’s message remains clear: True political power lies not in party affiliations or elite endorsements, but in the collective voice of the Nigerian electorate.