Breaking: El-Rufai Dumps APC, Joins SDP To Challenge Ruling Party

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

Former Kaduna State Governor and founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has formally resigned from the ruling party, citing a lack of commitment to its founding values.

In a statement released on Monday, El-Rufai announced his decision to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a platform for future political engagements.

El-Rufai, who played a key role in the formation of the APC in 2013, expressed disappointment with the party’s leadership, accusing them of ignoring internal crises and sidelining its founding principles.

He noted that his attempts to raise concerns, both privately and publicly were ignored, leading to his decision to seek an alternative political platform.

“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party,” he said.

The former governor, who was instrumental in securing APC victories in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 elections, lamented that the party had drifted away from its progressive ideals.

He highlighted his tenure in Kaduna State, where he implemented policies in education, healthcare, job creation, and infrastructure development, as evidence of his commitment to national progress, values he claims the APC has abandoned.

“I recognize that the party has since strayed and left me stuck in the vision of its well-meaning founding fathers and mothers,” he stated.

El-Rufai confirmed that he had submitted his resignation letter to his ward in Kaduna, effective immediately, after consulting with political allies and loyalists nationwide.

He pledged to unite the opposition under the SDP and work towards challenging the APC in upcoming elections.

“As a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027,” he declared.

The defection marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, as El-Rufai’s influence and experience could bolster the SDP’s position as a formidable opposition force ahead of the 2027 general elections.