The Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have dismissed former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and his plans to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
El-Rufai officially left the APC on Monday, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership and direction.
He accused the APC of abandoning its founding principles and vowed to unite opposition parties under the SDP to defeat the ruling party in the next general election.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, El-Rufai explained that:
He had lost faith in the APC’s leadership, which he claimed ignored his efforts to address internal issues.
The APC had strayed from its original progressive values, forcing him to seek an alternative platform.
He had consulted with political allies before deciding to join the SDP.
Reacting to El-Rufai’s defection, Daniel Bwala, the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communications, dismissed his move as a futile ambition.
He argued that:
El-Rufai’s political influence is overrated and his decision to join the opposition is not based on ideology but personal ambition.
Trying to unseat a sitting government does not automatically make one a progressive leader.
The Kaduna APC also downplayed El-Rufai’s exit, calling it political drama that would not affect the party’s strength.
The party’s state secretary, Yahaya Baba-Pate, assured members that the APC remains strong and is focused on securing victory for Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.
He dismissed El-Rufai’s defection as insignificant, saying prominent politicians are still joining the APC daily.
El-Rufai has been seen meeting with several opposition figures, including:
Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and 2023 PDP presidential candidate.
Peter Obi’s Labour Party representative at a democracy conference.
Kayode Fayemi, former Ekiti State Governor.
Recently, El-Rufai attended Atiku’s private dinner, fueling speculation that he may be aligning with the opposition ahead of 2027.
Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna, mocked El-Rufai’s defection, saying it wouldn’t make any difference because his influence has diminished.
Salihu Lukman, a former APC chieftain, described El-Rufai’s move as premature, saying he should have waited to coordinate a united opposition strategy.
