El-Rufai Expresses Regret Over Silence on 2023 Election as Leaked Video Sparks Outrage

DDM News

A leaked video of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s political landscape.

In the video, El-Rufai admitted that the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, may have actually won the 2023 presidential election, but that he chose to remain silent due to ethnic considerations.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the controversial footage has gone viral, sparking widespread conversations about tribalism, religious bias, and electoral justice in Nigeria.

Speaking to a group of Muslim clerics in what appears to be a private meeting, El-Rufai allegedly said:
“I kept quiet because he’s an Igbo man. But now, the North is suffering more than the Igbos. It was a mistake I regret.”

The former FCT Minister’s confession has reignited public debate over the conduct and outcome of the 2023 elections, which saw Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The result was hotly contested, with the Labour Party and the Obi-dient movement insisting that Peter Obi won the popular vote.

At the time, many Nigerians, particularly in the South-East and parts of the Middle Belt, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the electoral process, citing irregularities, voter suppression, and a lack of transparency.

Despite legal efforts to challenge the outcome, the courts upheld Tinubu’s victory, and the issue gradually faded from the headlines.

However, El-Rufai’s recent statement appears to confirm long-held suspicions that the 2023 presidential election result was manipulated or unjust.

More significantly, his admission that ethnic prejudice influenced his silence has angered many Nigerians who believe that merit, not ethnicity, should define leadership in a democratic society.

Observers say El-Rufai’s comment may not only damage his political credibility but also deepen existing ethnic and regional mistrust ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Political analysts are questioning the timing of the video.

Some suggest it may be a calculated move by El-Rufai to realign himself with a shifting political tide, especially as northern dissatisfaction with the current administration grows.

Others believe it is a genuine expression of regret, spurred by worsening economic and security conditions under the APC-led government.

El-Rufai’s remark that “the North is suffering more than the Igbos” has particularly drawn attention, as insecurity and poverty levels have reportedly worsened in many northern states since 2023.

Reactions on social media have been explosive. Many users are calling on other prominent politicians to come clean about the events surrounding the 2023 election. Supporters of Peter Obi have also intensified calls for electoral reform and accountability.

While the authenticity of the video has not been officially denied by El-Rufai or his aides, its content continues to trend across platforms, potentially shaping political narratives as Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 elections.

DDM will continue to monitor developments as more Nigerians digest the implications of El-Rufai’s revelation.

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