Nasir El-Rufai has extended an invitation to the opposition, comprising Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and others, to join him in the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The former Kaduna governor, whose defection was announced earlier in the week, made this known in an interview with the BBC.
El-Rufai clarified that he would rather the aforementioned individuals join him in the SDP rather than form a merger or a new political party.
“My wishes and prayers are Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf, all opposition leaders to come and join SDP, not to do a merger or to register a new political party.
“What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in would do well because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges.
“We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed,” El-Rufai said.
He added that his new party and the people’s will would determine presidential political ambition in 2027.
“It is not for me to decide; it is the party and the people that will decide.
“Even when I was contesting for governor, it was people that met and convinced (Muhammadu) Buhari, and he called me and asked me to contest.”