“Tinubu Is Gone” — El‑Rufai Slams President with Scathing 91% Disapproval Rating in North & Southeast

Nasir El‑Rufai has delivered a blistering judgment on President Bola Tinubu: “He is gone.” During a fiery appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Monday, June 24, 2025, the former Kaduna governor revealed internal polling data showing Tinubu commands a staggering 91% disapproval rate across the North and Southeast.

El‑Rufai, now allied with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said Nigerians have grown weary of Tinubu’s administration, citing rampant insecurity, economic stagnation, and a lack of clear trade and investment policies. “We have done polling across the country,” he asserted. “Even in Lagos, disapproval hits 78%, and nowhere in the country does approval top 50%”.

The powerful critique comes two years after Tinubu’s inauguration—May 29, 2023. El‑Rufai asked a pointed question: “Has your life improved since then?” If not, he argued, it’s time to consider an alternative. He warned that Nigeria risks collapse unless course correction begins .

By highlighting record government revenues without tangible benefits, El‑Rufai questioned where the money is going. “They are raising lots of revenues, but we don’t know where the revenues are going because there are no results,” he said, condemning what he calls a mismanaged national agenda.

El‑Rufai’s remarks also echo earlier concerns about the fraying relationship between Tinubu and Northern voters—some comparing it to the political ousting of Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. He warned that continued regional estrangement could spell long-term damage.

Already, El‑Rufai is working with opposition leaders like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi to build a viable alternative platform ahead of 2027. But with soaring discontent and dwindling approval, his remarks may galvanize the opposition to mobilize more rapidly.

As 2027 approaches, the question now is whether Tinubu’s administration can reverse the tide—or if El‑Rufai’s warning marks a turning point on Nigeria’s political timeline.