Presidency Rejects ‘Life President’ Claims, Affirms Tinubu Will Leave Office in 2031

The Presidency has dismissed claims by former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intends to remain in power indefinitely.

El-Rufai had alleged that Tinubu might aim to become a “life president” after the 2027 general elections. However, in a statement released on Sunday, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President described the allegation as baseless and unfounded.

The statement noted that El-Rufai appeared unsettled by the continued strong support the President enjoys, particularly in the northern region. It further emphasised that Tinubu is a committed democrat with no intention of extending his tenure beyond May 28, 2031, following a potential re-election in 2027.

The Presidency said, “Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai seems to need some guidance in view of his recent unfounded claims about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is clear that El-Rufai has recognised the futility of attempts by his associates to prevent President Tinubu’s likely re-election in 2027, a mission doomed to fail.”

The statement added that the President’s warm reception in Kaduna last Friday demonstrated the depth of his support in the North, contrary to El-Rufai’s claims that the region had abandoned him.

“It is unfortunate that El-Rufai has resorted to spreading baseless stories, including the notion that President Tinubu intends to become a ‘life president.’ This claim is absurd. President Tinubu is a democrat who will not stay in office beyond May 28, 2031,” the statement said.

The Presidency concluded by suggesting that El-Rufai may benefit from professional counsel to steer him away from what it described as political fabrications.