The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has declared that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, does not hold the power to dictate how Nigerians will vote in the 2027 general elections.
Dare, in a statement shared during an interview on the Mic On podcast published on Saturday, maintained that El-Rufai’s political influence does not overshadow the collective will of over 110 million eligible voters.
This comes after El-Rufai recently boasted that an opposition alliance would defeat President Tinubu and send him “back to Lagos” in 2027.
Responding, Dare emphasized that stronger political figures with broader influence exist and are more instrumental to Nigeria’s development than El-Rufai.
He said, “Is El-Rufai 110 million Nigerians who will vote? How many votes does he truly command? Even if he does have supporters, can he dictate how they will vote?
I respect him, but equating El-Rufai with Nigeria’s millions of voters is an overreach. He is not bigger than any other Nigerian — everyone has an equal stake in this country.”
Dare further expressed confidence that Tinubu’s wide-ranging reforms would secure him a second term in 2027, stressing that experts forecast Nigerians will begin to feel the full impact of the administration’s economic and social policies within four to six years.
“Look at the alignment of policies targeting key sectors — solid minerals like lithium and copper, the oil sector, education, agriculture, and healthcare. Over 5,000 primary health centres are being revived, with 1,000 already fully operational,” he said.
He added that Tinubu’s administration has launched multiple development initiatives in under two years, demonstrating what he called a “leadership adept at unlocking Nigeria’s true potential.”
