Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is gearing up for a legal confrontation with President Bola Tinubu, as reported by Vanguard.

This move comes amidst allegations labeling El-Rufai a security risk, prompting him to seek vindication in court while simultaneously preparing for a potential political showdown affecting Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The brewing conflict stems from Tinubu’s administration’s controversial decision to exclude El-Rufai from a ministerial office over purported security concerns, igniting significant public and political debate.

Recent activities by El-Rufai, including engagements with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and opposition figures, indicate his increasing alignment with political dissent.

Despite his pivotal contributions to Tinubu’s presidential campaign, El-Rufai, who initially expressed a desire to take a break in academia, was persuaded to contribute to the government’s energy sector revival plans.

Drawing on his experience from the Bureau for Public Enterprises and the energy reforms under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, El-Rufai began laying groundwork for his ministerial role, only to be unexpectedly sidelined during the Senate’s screening process over security clearance issues.

The decision stunned many political observers, considering El-Rufai’s pivotal contributions to Tinubu’s presidential campaign, his exclusion from ministerial office raised eyebrows, especially considering his influential role in rallying Northern governors’ support for Tinubu and his instrumental actions in Tinubu’s electoral victories in key Southwestern states.

A senior government official from one of the Southwest states on the condition of anonymity said, “He played a key role in funding us in my state and I can tell this because I was personally involved.”

A source close to El-Rufai revealed that his camp believes it was unjust for him to be publicly humiliated and labeled a security risk.

As a result, El-Rufai is reportedly planning to clear his name in court, leveraging his international contacts and reputation.

One of the confidants of the former governor told Saturday Vanguard, “You think Mallam will allow this tag to abide on him? I can assure you that he is going to clear his name in court.

“El-Rufai is a man who has many contacts internationally and he is not one to allow his reputation to be smeared by the reason given by the Senate of being a security risk,” the source said in revealing the prospects of court action to enable the former governor to clear his name.

In addition to legal action, El-Rufai is mobilizing to play a role against Tinubu in the court of public opinion ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, whether he will stand as a candidate or mobilize against Tinubu remains uncertain.

Saturday Vanguard reports that the strategic facilitation provided by El-Rufai to Tinubu came after he had in the past lampooned Tinubu as a godfather. He had at a lecture in May 2019 averred that it was possible to defeat the godfather of Lagos.

A year later at a webinar to commemorate the 63rd birthday of Rauf Aregbesola in May 2020, El-Rufai had said that Tinubu was not his man.

While congratulating Aregbesola, El-Rufai said, “I want to congratulate my brother, Ogbeni (Aregbesola), on his birthday. You know I’m your man any day. I’m not Asiwaju’s man and you are Asiwaju’s man, but I am your man any day. Asiwaju and I have differences but you and I have no differences.”