8 Political Reasons Nasir El-Rufai’s Ministerial Nomination Failed, According to Insiders

In 2023, Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Governor of Kaduna State, was nominated by President Bola Tinubu for a ministerial post. What seemed like a routine cabinet appointment turned into a highly publicized controversy when the Senate of Nigeria withheld confirmation, citing security concerns from the State Security Service (SSS/DSS).

While official explanations focused on security vetting, political insiders—including Femi Fani-Kayode, Reno Omokri, Shehu Sani, and El-Rufai himself—point to a broader set of factors that undermined his confirmation. By early 2026, El-Rufai had withdrawn from consideration, nominating a replacement, amid ongoing controversies such as his ICPC custody over money laundering probes.

Here are eight key reasons insiders say contributed to the failed appointment:

1. Petitions from Persecuted Religious Groups in Kaduna
Numerous petitions from Shia Muslims, Tijaniya Muslims, and Christians accused El-Rufai of human rights violations during his governorship. These included demolitions of Shia Islamic Movement institutions in Kawo, Rigasa, and Tudun Wada, an 11-year ban on Christian pilgrimages to Jerusalem (lifted in 2026), and requiring pastors to submit sermon scripts. According to Fani-Kayode, these petitions formed the core reason the Senate declined confirmation.

2. Allegations of Human Rights Abuses and Massacres
El-Rufai’s tenure was marred by violent incidents, including the Zaria Shiite massacre of December 2015, which claimed hundreds of lives. Reports also linked him to paying herdsmen involved in killings in Southern Kaduna. Sani described his administration as a period of unprecedented insecurity, while Omokri referred to the human rights abuses as contributing factors to the failed security clearance.

3. Unguarded and Reckless Public Statements
El-Rufai’s history of inflammatory remarks fueled doubts about his suitability. Incidents cited included insulting Jesus Christ in 2013, threatening EU election observers with death in 2019, and publicly declaring that Christians would never vote for him even if “he brought the Pope.” Such statements, insiders argued, posed diplomatic and political liabilities for a ministerial role.

4. Demolitions and Weaponizing Poverty Against Critics
The ex-governor faced criticism for ordering the demolition of thousands of homes, including those of political opponents like Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and civil servants. Fani-Kayode noted that approximately 2,000 structures in Abuja and 12,000 shanties in Kaduna were demolished without compensation. Orphanages and retirees’ homes were also affected, aggravating social and economic grievances.

5. Ongoing Litigations and Security Failures
El-Rufai faced multiple litigations over the sale of federal assets without due process. Combined with persistent security lapses in Kaduna, these legal and administrative issues strengthened the SSS’s reservations, with insiders describing them as part of his “bestial legacy” of governance.

6. President Tinubu’s Change of Mind
El-Rufai revealed that President Tinubu initially encouraged him to accept the nomination, but later reversed course, citing security concerns. He argued that less qualified individuals were confirmed after presidential approval, suggesting that Tinubu never fully intended to appoint him.

7. Influence of Forces Around the President
Political sources suggest that advisers and allies around Tinubu actively opposed El-Rufai’s appointment, considering him “too toxic” or a threat. During a private meeting, Tinubu reportedly highlighted petitions and DSS findings, prompting El-Rufai to withdraw. Insider accounts differ on whether this was purely political maneuvering or a reflection of genuine concerns.

8. Diplomatic and Political Liabilities
Insiders emphasized El-Rufai’s history as a diplomatic liability. Threats against international observers, anti-Christian remarks, abductions of journalists like Jackson Ude, and raids on rivals’ followers contributed to the perception that he was unsuitable for a ministerial role in a diverse and fragile federation.

Ultimately, El-Rufai’s ministerial saga underscores how a mix of security concerns, governance controversies, public perception, and political maneuvering can derail even high-profile appointments. The episode remains a cautionary tale about the intersection of politics, accountability, and public service in Nigeria.