By Abiola Olawale
In a stunning turn of events, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has officially resigned his membership from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The move, which El-Rufai described as a necessary step to pursue his progressive ideals, comes as the 2027 general elections loom on the horizon.
El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC and one of its most prominent figures, made the announcement via a detailed statement on Monday morning, where he cited irreconcilable differences with the ruling party’s current leadership and direction.
“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 stated.
In his resignation letter addressed to his ward in Kaduna State, El-Rufai expressed frustration over what he described as the party’s deviation from its founding principles of democracy and progressivism.
“I have spent years working to strengthen the APC as a strong political platform. However, recent developments indicate a departure from the core democratic ideals we once stood for,” he added.
He further noted that developments over the past two years have confirmed a lack of willingness by the APC leadership to address the “unhealthy situation” within the party.
El-Rufai formally submitted his resignation effective immediately and wasted no time in declaring his new political home. “After this, I had concluded consultations with my mentors, colleagues, and loyalists alike about the future, and have decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP),” he announced.
Notwithstanding his diminutive frame, El-Rufai has been a towering figure in Nigerian politics for decades, known for his technocratic approach and unapologetic governance style. As one of the key architects of the APC’s formation in 2013, El-Rufai played a pivotal role in the merger of opposition parties that eventually unseated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.
El-Rufai’s move followed his recent meetings with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former vice presidential candidate Tunde Bakare, and former President Muhammadu Buhari, among others.
His defection also came after several reported cases of confrontations with some officials of the presidency. The former governor was not at the APC national caucus and the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting last month.
