Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused President Bola Tinubu of endangering Nigeria’s democracy, warning that his administration poses a greater threat to democratic governance than any past military regime.

El-Rufai made the comments while hosting former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar at his Kaduna residence over the weekend. Atiku had visited him in solidarity following an attack during the inauguration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna, where thugs stormed the venue and disrupted proceedings. Both El-Rufai and the Kaduna State government traded blame for the incident, which later led to police summons for El-Rufai and several ADC leaders.

However, the Presidency swiftly rejected El-Rufai’s remarks. In a statement issued on Sunday, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the allegations as “baseless and absurd,” insisting President Tinubu remains committed to democracy and has no plans to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, if re-elected in 2027.

Speaking during the visit, El-Rufai accused Tinubu of centralising power and eroding federal principles. He likened the President to Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982, and warned that Nigeria risked sliding into authoritarianism.

“Honestly, sir, to me, it is a disgrace,” El-Rufai told Atiku. “For people to behave in this manner means all the years of claiming to defend democracy and NADECO, of fighting for federalism—it was all pretence. This government is centralising everything instead of devolving power to the states and local governments.

“The sum total is that we are confronting an evil of unprecedented scale. If we do not unite to end this administration by 2027, Tinubu will attempt to become our Paul Biya. All the signs are there—this is exactly how Biya started.”

He praised Atiku’s past record in government, recalling his years with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and argued that even past military leaders had not acted as repressive as Tinubu’s civilian administration.

In response, Atiku commended El-Rufai’s courage and urged opposition figures to unite and work collectively to remove Tinubu through democratic means in 2027.

In its response, the Presidency said: “Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai appears to need some help, given his recent unfounded claims about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Onanuga said. “It is increasingly evident that he has recognised the futility of attempts by his associates in the ADC to stop the President’s likely re-election in 2027. This plot is unattainable and doomed to fail.

“After witnessing the rousing reception President Tinubu received in Kaduna last Friday, El-Rufai was shocked by the depth of support the President enjoys in the North. This completely undermines his narrative that the region has abandoned Tinubu.

“In response, he resorted to spreading falsehoods, including the baseless claim that President Tinubu seeks to become a ‘life president.’ President Tinubu is a democrat who will not remain in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027.

“Governor Uba Sani may wish to reach out to his predecessor, as El-Rufai could benefit from professional counselling to steer him away from hallucinations and political fabrications about Tinubu and 2027.”