Galadima alleges El-Rufai is Atiku’s 'placeholder' in SDP ahead of 2027

Galadima, a former National Secretary of the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), made the explosive claims during a recent interview in which he also shed light on ongoing efforts to form a broad opposition coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu's All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

“Well, not El-Rufai himself, but some of his associates, including the chairman of the SDP, visited me. We had a lengthy discussion, and I shared my views with them.

“I am confident that my perspective will prevail because El-Rufai cannot lead an opposition. It’s simply the law of karma catching up with him,” Galadima said

He criticised El-Rufai’s track record, alleging repeated betrayals of key political figures, including Atiku, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Muhammadu Buhari, and now President Tinubu.

“He ditched a lot of people. Someone with this kind of record, I don’t think if you are sensible, you will follow him.

“It is only an insane person who does not understand politics or has no history who can follow El-Rufai,” he stated bluntly.

Galadima further questioned El-Rufai’s political instincts, arguing that his early coalition moves signal a lack of understanding of opposition dynamics.

“No opposition runs a marathon race. It’s a sprint, a 100-meter dash. El-Rufai is starting early. By the third year, he must have been dismembered.

“It’s because he’s not a politician, or because God is pushing him to suffer because of the bad things he did to the people,” he said.

The NNPP chieftain also confirmed that multiple political actors, including El-Rufai, have initiated conversations with 2023 NNPP presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

“I must confess, even El-Rufai spoke to him… A lot of people are doing underground talking. That is what it should be,” he revealed.

Turning to the state of the PDP, Galadima dismissed the party as irreparably broken.

“The PDP has been destroyed completely; it is irredeemable,” he declared, pointing to internal divisions and the influence of Nyesom Wike.

“That is why Atiku is afraid of being stranded. El-Rufai is now jumping to become a placeholder for Atiku.”

Galadima also hinted at political interference in recent legal rulings, suggesting Wike’s influence extends into the judiciary.