Presidency Dismisses El-Rufai’s “Life Presidency” Allegation Against Tinubu

The Presidency has dismissed former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai’s claim that President Bola Tinubu is plotting a “life presidency,” describing the remark as baseless and politically motivated.

El-Rufai, who recently alleged that the administration was centralising power and could attempt to extend Tinubu’s tenure beyond constitutional limits, made the comments during a solidarity visit from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Kaduna.

In response, Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga accused El-Rufai of fabricating falsehoods to discredit the President ahead of the 2027 elections. He said El-Rufai’s comments were driven by desperation following the warm reception Tinubu received during a recent visit to Kaduna, which he argued contradicted claims that the North had abandoned the President.

Onanuga further alleged that El-Rufai and his allies, now linked with a new political party, were making futile attempts to weaken Tinubu’s northern support base. He insisted the efforts were “doomed to fail” and stressed that Tinubu, as a democrat, has no intention of staying in office beyond May 28, 2031, if re-elected.

Taking a swipe at the former governor, the Presidency urged Kaduna’s current governor, Uba Sani, to intervene, suggesting that El-Rufai “may need professional counselling” to steer him away from what it described as “hallucinations and political fabrications.”

Written by Adeyemi Adewale