El-Rufai mobilises supporters for ADC ahead of 2027 elections, faces challenge of retaining Kaduna’s political base

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has directed his supporters to vote for African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidates across all levels in the 2027 general elections, signalling an effort to strengthen the party’s grassroots presence amid political realignments and defections involving some of his former associates.

The directive was communicated through Hafsat Baba, the ADC North-West Vice Chairman, during a coalition meeting of support groups loyal to El-Rufai in Kaduna State.

According to reports published on November 3, 2026, the mobilisation plan covers the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections across Kaduna’s 23 local government areas.

Baba said the meeting was organised to unite the former governor’s support groups, coordinate their activities and strengthen the ADC’s political structures ahead of the elections.

She also disclosed that the coalition planned to establish a database of El-Rufai’s supporters across the state and maintain regular engagements to sustain its mobilisation efforts.

El-Rufai reportedly urged his supporters to remain united, peaceful and law-abiding while working towards the party’s electoral objectives.

The development comes as Kaduna’s political landscape undergoes significant changes ahead of the 2027 elections, with the ADC seeking to consolidate its opposition base against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led in the state by Governor Uba Sani.

El-Rufai remains an influential political figure in Kaduna, having governed the state between 2015 and 2023.

His decision to join the ADC in November 2025 marked a major shift in his political affiliation after leaving the APC, the platform on which he served as governor.

His entry into the opposition party was part of broader efforts to build an alternative political coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

By directing his supporters to back ADC candidates across all elective positions, El-Rufai appears to be seeking coordinated support for the party beyond the presidential contest.

The proposed mobilisation across all 23 local government areas could help the ADC strengthen its ward-level structures, engage voters and coordinate campaign activities.

However, the extent of the former governor’s influence over the party’s electoral fortunes will depend partly on whether his support groups can translate their political networks into active party membership and votes.

The mobilisation directive comes against the backdrop of defections by several prominent politicians who previously served under El-Rufai.

In October 2026, former Kaduna Commissioner for Finance and Chief of Staff Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, former Commissioner for Education Jafaru Sani and former Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari were among prominent figures who moved from the ADC to the APC.

The defections followed disagreements surrounding the ADC’s governorship primary and its internal political arrangements.

Sa’idu claimed that more than 200,000 ADC members and supporters had moved to the APC through his political network. However, the figure has not been independently verified and should not be treated as an established count of defectors.

Governor Uba Sani subsequently announced that the APC had increased its target for Kaduna to three million votes in the 2027 elections following the return of the former El-Rufai associates.

The movement of these politicians presents a challenge for the ADC, particularly in determining how much of its grassroots support remains intact following the departures.

It also highlights the changing political relationships between El-Rufai, some of his former associates and the administration of his successor.

The Kaduna governorship election is expected to be an important part of the political contest in 2027.

The ADC selected former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Isah Ashiru as its flag bearer following its primary election in May 2026.

Ashiru’s emergence came amid disagreements among some party stakeholders over the nomination process.

The APC, meanwhile, is seeking another term under Governor Uba Sani, who succeeded El-Rufai in 2023.

The relationship between the former governor and his successor has become an important feature of Kaduna’s changing political landscape, particularly as several politicians associated with El-Rufai’s administration have returned to the APC.

For the ADC, the challenge will be to manage internal disagreements, retain existing supporters and build a united campaign structure around its candidates.

El-Rufai’s mobilisation directive could provide an organisational boost, but its effectiveness will depend on the level of cooperation among party stakeholders and the ability of local support groups to maintain consistent engagement with voters.

Beyond electoral mobilisation, Baba raised concerns about insecurity in parts of Kaduna State, specifically mentioning Birnin Gwari, Giwa and Millennium City.

She called on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect residents and their property.

The ADC chieftain also alleged that more than 30 supporters of El-Rufai had been arrested about two weeks before the coalition meeting.

She questioned what she described as repeated arrests of the former governor’s loyalists and urged security agencies to remain impartial and operate within the provisions of the Constitution.

The allegations have not been independently established, and the reported arrests would require clarification from the relevant security authorities

El-Rufai’s latest directive signals an attempt to maintain political relevance and coordinate his support base through the ADC ahead of the next general elections.

For the opposition party, the strategy offers an opportunity to strengthen its presence across Kaduna’s 23 local government areas and present a coordinated challenge to the ruling APC.

However, the recent defections of prominent former associates demonstrate that political networks linked to the former governor are not necessarily united behind one party.

The APC’s ability to integrate returning politicians and their supporters, alongside the ADC’s efforts to retain its existing structures, will remain important developments to watch.

Ultimately, the significance of El-Rufai’s mobilisation will depend not simply on the number of support groups attending political meetings or declarations of loyalty, but on whether the exercise produces stronger party organisation, sustained grassroots engagement and measurable participation at the ballot box.

As the 2027 elections approach, Kaduna’s political contest is increasingly shaped by competing alliances, party defections and efforts to consolidate grassroots support. Whether these developments translate into changes in voter preferences will only become clearer as the campaigns progress.