2023: El-Rufai Finally Unveil Plans To Run For President As Loyalists Begins Underground Campaign

By Justin Nzeh 

Nasir El-rufai

THE popular saying among Nigerians, nay, Africans, that there is no smoke without fire, may have readily given credence to the current strong speculations that the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai has made up his mind to run for the 2023 presidential election as a candidate from the north under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, is serving his second term in office following his victory at the February presidential election. The latest move by El-rufai, which remains in the background for now, to take a shot at the presidential race in 2023 may go a long way to thwart permutations on the return of power to the South after the North would have had its eight years.

The ‘smoke’ that may have indicated that there is actually a ‘fire’ somewhere towards the presidential ambition of El-rufai was further amplified by some youths in Kaduna State who are believed to be loyal to APC and are already adorning T-shirts with the inscription, “El-rufai for presidency, 2023”.

The youths in their numbers, penultimate Monday, stormed Kaduna Government House, wearing the shirts under El-rufai’s nose to celebrate the tribunal’s judgement that upheld his governorship election against the candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Isah Ashiru.

Some of the youths were seen discussing in groups shortly after the celebration in the Government House. Also, posters, bearing El-rufai’s picture for 2023 presidency were earlier sighted on Kaduna streets, particularly along Gwamna road, in the city centre.