Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Public Communications and Media to President Bola Tinubu, has declared that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai's political influence is waning and his coalition has already collapsed.

Speaking during an interview on AIT's Focus Nigeria programme, Bwala dismissed El-Rufai's recent political maneuvers as lacking substance and grassroots support despite the media attention they have garnered.

"Even when he started, it was like that — like he dropped Andrew Liver Salt, and then it calmed down. That's what is happening. Nobody talks about him. Nobody looks for him," Bwala stated.

Disconnected from the North

The presidential aide argued that El-Rufai is among political figures who are mistakenly identified as representing northern interests despite being disconnected from the grassroots.

"When we talk of the north, there are times there is a misconception. People identify five eggheads and call them the north. Some of them are disconnected from the source," he explained.

According to Bwala, El-Rufai's political decline began during his second term as Kaduna governor, evidenced by the APC's loss of key National Assembly seats and the presidential vote in the state.

"In the second half of his term, the APC lost three senate seats and a number of House of Representatives seats. The president lost the election there. Political scientists look at those things as indices," Bwala emphasized.

Coalition Talks and PDP Return

Bwala revealed that even within current coalition discussions, there are suggestions for El-Rufai to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

"Even among the people who are talking about coalition now, he said he wants to move somewhere. They say, come back to PDP," the presidential aide disclosed.

The comments come after El-Rufai recently described the Tinubu administration as the "worst and most corrupt" in Nigeria's history, escalating tensions between the former governor and the presidency.

Defending Tinubu's Popularity

In contrast to his assessment of El-Rufai, Bwala defended President Tinubu's popularity, citing the president's recent reception in Katsina as evidence of his strong support base.

"We went to Katsina with the president two weeks ago... from the airport to the city, people lined up," Bwala said, countering claims that Tinubu lacks support in northern Nigeria.

Political analysts view these exchanges as part of the positioning ahead of the 2027 elections, with El-Rufai reportedly exploring alternative political platforms while the presidency works to consolidate its support base across the country.