El-Rufai Leaves APC, Joins Social Democratic Party.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai announced his decision in a statement on Monday, citing dissatisfaction with the APC’s leadership and direction in recent years. He stated that after repeatedly expressing his concerns about the party’s trajectory, both privately and publicly, he had decided to seek a new political platform aligned with his progressive values.
“As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC,” he said.
“It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and those of the APC would continue to align up to the time I choose to retire from politics. However, 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.”
El-Rufai explained that, after consulting with his mentors, colleagues, and supporters nationwide regarding his political future, he had formally resigned his APC membership by writing to his ward in Kaduna North Local Government Area. His resignation took effect immediately.
Declaring his new political affiliation, the former governor stated that he had now joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which he would adopt as the platform for his future political activities.
“Without prejudice to this decision, 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 by the grace of God,” he added.
El-Rufai’s defection marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape as the country prepares for future elections. His move to the SDP is expected to influence political alignments and opposition strategies in the coming years.
