Former Kaduna State Governor and founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling party and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday, March 10, 2025, El-Rufai expressed his dissatisfaction with the APC’s current leadership and direction, accusing the party of abandoning its founding ideals.
El-Rufai, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics and one of the architects of the APC’s formation in 2013, stated that his decision was driven by a growing misalignment between his values and those of the party. “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. He further criticized the APC for sidelining its members and straying from its progressive principles.
The former governor revealed that he had raised concerns about the party's trajectory both privately and publicly over the past two years. However, he claimed that these warnings were ignored by the current leadership. “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,” El-Rufai explained.
El-Rufai also reflected on his contributions to the APC’s success in previous elections, particularly in 2015, 2019, and 2023. He highlighted his tenure as Kaduna State governor, during which he implemented policies focused on education reform, healthcare improvement, infrastructure development, and job creation. Despite these efforts, he lamented that his achievements “count for little in the current APC.”
In his resignation letter submitted to his ward in Kaduna North Local Government Area, El-Rufai announced his decision to join the SDP. He described it as a platform better aligned with his progressive ideals and plans for Nigeria’s future. Encouraging his supporters to follow suit, he emphasized the need for a unified democratic platform capable of challenging the APC in upcoming elections.
El-Rufai’s defection has sparked speculation about his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections. His move comes after months of reported tensions with APC leadership and a series of confrontations with key figures in President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Notably, El-Rufai’s nomination for a ministerial position was withheld by the Senate last year due to alleged security concerns.
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