Bwala dismisses El-Rufai’s political relevance, mocks new coalition
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Public Communications and Media to President Bola Tinubu, has downplayed the political influence of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing his recent coalition efforts as ineffective and short-lived.
Speaking during a current affairs programme, Focus Nigeria on AIT, Bwala likened El-Rufai’s political re-emergence to a fleeting moment that failed to gain traction.
“Even when he started, it was like he dropped Andrew Liver Salt — quick fizz, then calm.
That’s what is happening. Nobody talks about him. Nobody looks for him,” Bwala said.
He argued that El-Rufai lacks a solid grassroots base, particularly in northern Nigeria, despite media attention surrounding his activities. “When we talk about the north, there’s often a misconception.
People name five individuals and label them as the north, but some of them are disconnected from the actual base,” he said.
Bwala pointed to the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s performance in Kaduna during El-Rufai’s second term as evidence of his waning influence.
“The APC lost three Senate seats and several House of Representatives seats. The president lost the election there,” he noted.
“These are the indicators political scientists look at.”
He also claimed that even some of El-Rufai’s current political associates are encouraging him to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “Among those discussing coalition with him, some are telling him to come back to PDP,” Bwala stated.
In defending President Tinubu’s popularity, Bwala cited a recent visit to Katsina, where he claimed the president received a warm reception.
“From the airport to the city, people lined the roads,” he said, rejecting claims of dwindling public support.
El-Rufai has recently stirred controversy by labelling the Tinubu administration as the “worst and most corrupt” in Nigeria’s history—a statement that has intensified political tensions between the former governor and the presidency.