Former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed the defection of high-profile politicians like the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as insignificant in real politicking.

Mr El-Rufai, at Kano on Monday, said the defection of high-profile politicians is exaggerated because they have one vote each, like other Nigerians.

“As far as I’m concerned, the defection of high-profile politicians is not the issue,” Mr 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.”

He added, “A governor has only one vote. Nigerians have millions. If the people say no, it’s over.”

Citing himself and President Bola Tinubu, who lost their respective states during the 2023 presidential election, Mr El-Rufai said the people determine election outcomes, not the governors or the president.

“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,” Mr El-Rufai said.

The former Kaduna governor recently dumped the All Progressives Congress for the Social Democratic Party. 

Meanwhile, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, last Thursday mocked opposition groups headed by Mr Nasir and former vice president Atiku Abubakar, plotting a coalition to unseat Mr Tinubu in 2027.

“Atiku’s political future looks bleak. The coalition that he, El Rufai, Babachir, and new member Baba-Ahmed are cobbling together has disintegrated. Potential allies, including former running mate Ifeanyi Okowa and defunct CPC members, are giving his leprous group a wide berth. Atiku is a loser again,” Mr Onanuga said in a post on X.