A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, Uche Diala, has publicly urged former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to reverse his decision to quit active politics and instead contest the 2027 presidential election.
Diala’s call comes just days after El-Rufai, while receiving new defectors to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declared that he had no interest in seeking any political office.
In a statement on Friday, Diala insisted that El-Rufai’s withdrawal would be a “disservice” to his supporters and the entire nation.
The Imo APC chieftain argued that the country’s current challenges demand a leader with El-Rufai’s capacity, experience, and courage, stating, “Nigeria needs him now more than ever.”
Diala, a known ally of the former governor, acknowledged that El-Rufai’s reluctance was not surprising given his past political actions.
However, he maintained that the current political moment is not about personal ambition but about the nation’s future, and that El-Rufai must be “sensitive to that reality.”
El-Rufai has since defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and has been in talks with opposition figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi to form a formidable coalition.
Diala dismissed concerns that his appeal would sideline other leaders within the coalition, arguing that El-Rufai’s entry into the race would strengthen internal democracy.
He also revealed that he and other supporters have been quietly mobilizing support for El-Rufai’s candidacy across regional, religious, and political divides. “That is the least he owes us, the coalition movement, and the nation at large,” Diala concluded.