Nasir el-Rufai, the immediate-past Governor of Kaduna State, has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In a statement issued on Monday, El-Rufai expressed his disillusionment with the APC leadership, accusing it of abandoning the progressive ideals upheld by the party’s founders. “At this point in my political journey, I have concluded that I must seek another political platform to pursue the progressive values I cherish. I have now decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).”
El-Rufai further explained that despite raising concerns both privately and publicly about the party’s direction over the past two years, he found no willingness among the current leadership to address the issues. He criticized the party for undermining its internal organs and neglecting its membership, stating that his progressive record during his eight years in office as governor of Kaduna State was now overlooked by the current APC leadership.
El-Rufai confirmed that he had submitted his resignation letter to his ward in Kaduna North Local Government Area. He expressed his belief that the SDP would provide a better platform for his future political pursuits, calling on his supporters and fellow Nigerians to join him in this new political journey to challenge the APC in upcoming elections.
This move follows a series of meetings with key political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former vice presidential candidate Tunde Bakare, and former President Muhammadu Buhari. El-Rufai’s defection also comes after multiple confrontations with the presidency, including his absence from the APC’s national caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings in the previous month.
El-Rufai, who was a vocal advocate for Bola Tinubu’s candidacy during the 2023 presidential election, was later nominated by Tinubu for a ministerial position. However, his nomination was rejected by the Senate, which cited security concerns from the Department of State Services. Since then, El-Rufai has distanced himself from the APC and its leadership, fueling speculation about his defection, which he has now confirmed.
Additionally, El-Rufai’s relationship with his successor, Governor Sani Uba of Kaduna, has soured, with the state assembly probing his administration over alleged corruption, charges he has denied.
