Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), criticising the ruling party for failing to resolve internal crises.
In a statement on Monday titled “Onwards to the Future,” El-Rufai accused the APC leadership of straying from its founding principles, saying it had become unwilling to address its problems.
“As a founding member of the APC, I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC,” he said. “However, developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control the APC to address the unhealthy situation within the party.”
The former governor, who played a key role in securing the APC’s victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023, lamented that the party had abandoned its original mission.
“My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies that advanced human development in education, healthcare, infrastructure, job creation, and equality of opportunity,” he stated. “These records count for little in the current APC, which has dismantled its internal structures and treated its members with contempt.”
El-Rufai said his move to the SDP was not just a personal decision but part of a broader effort to unite opposition forces ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party,” he said. “Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish.”
He urged his supporters to join him in the SDP, stressing that Nigeria needed a strong, united opposition to challenge the APC in future elections.
“I therefore call on all our supporters and other persons concerned about our country’s future to join us in the SDP in the journey towards making Nigeria flourish as a beacon of pride for Africans and the Black Race.”
El-Rufai’s defection is expected to reshape the political landscape ahead of the next general elections.
Also, The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has downplayed the impact of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing it as inconsequential to the party’s political fortunes in the state.
In a statement to journalists, the Secretary of the Kaduna APC, Yahaya Baba-Pate, stated that the party remains unfazed by El-Rufai’s decision to leave the APC, emphasising that the focus of the party is squarely on ensuring the victory of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in the 2027 elections.
According to Baba-Pate, the APC is experiencing a significant influx of prominent politicians joining the party, which demonstrates the party’s growing strength in the state.
“We are unperturbed by former governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to another party. Our main focus in Kaduna is on how to deliver the state to both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.”
“The APC in Kaduna State is growing day by day, judging from the calibre of politicians streaming into the party on a daily basis. So, we are not disturbed by anybody defecting to another party based on our governor’s inclusive governance in the state.”Baba-Pate said.
Baba-Pate emphasised that the party would not lose sleep over El-Rufai’s move, asserting that the political landscape in the state is evolving, with a growing number of high-profile politicians choosing to align with the APC.
His remarks come after El-Rufai’s decision to leave the APC, citing misalignment between his personal values and the direction of the party.
Despite El-Rufai’s departure, Baba-Pate expressed confidence in the APC’s chances in the 2027 elections, stating that the party is more united and determined than ever.
“We are not disturbed, and we are not going to lose our sleep over El-Rufai’s moves. The party in the state is growing more than before,” he added.
Also, a former lawmaker in the 8th National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, has declared that the defection of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) will not impact the APC’s fortunes. Sani stated that El-Rufai’s decision was a result of his diminished political relevance.
“Leaving the APC for the SDP wouldn’t make any difference for someone with no political relevance anymore,” Sani said. He further expressed his support for Governor Uba Sani’s re-election bid, stating that his primary political interest in 2027 is to see the governor re-elected.
Sani’s statement comes after El-Rufai officially dumped the APC for the SDP, citing a growing misalignment between his personal values and the party’s current direction.
