El-Rufai Quits APC, Joins SDP, Calls for United Opposition Ahead of 2027
Former Kaduna State Governor and key founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling party, citing concerns over its leadership and deviation from its founding principles.
In a statement on Monday, El-Rufai lamented what he described as the steady decline of the APC, accusing its leadership of sidelining core members and neglecting pressing internal issues. He expressed disappointment that his attempts to address these concerns, both publicly and privately, had been ignored.
“Since 2013, I had hoped that my personal values and those of the APC would remain aligned until my retirement from politics. However, recent developments indicate that the current leadership has no intention of acknowledging, let alone addressing, the deteriorating state of the party,” he stated.
El-Rufai, who played a significant role in APC’s victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023, criticized the party for abandoning its founding values. He pointed to his tenure as Kaduna governor, where he prioritized education, healthcare, infrastructure, and investment attraction, as an example of the progressive governance he believes APC has now discarded.
“These achievements mean little to the APC today, which in the past two years has emasculated its structures and treated its members with disdain. I can no longer accept this situation,” he declared.
After consulting with political allies, mentors, and supporters across the country, El-Rufai announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a platform he believes is better suited for genuine progressive governance. He also called on opposition parties to unite in a broad coalition to challenge APC in upcoming elections.
“As a member of the SDP, I will engage with and persuade other opposition leaders and parties to form a unified democratic platform to contest against the APC in all elections and by-elections leading up to 2027,” he affirmed.
El-Rufai’s defection is the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the APC, raising questions about the party’s future cohesion. His move to the SDP signals a potential realignment of political forces ahead of the next general elections.
As the political landscape shifts, the big question remains: Will El-Rufai’s departure trigger a larger exodus from the APC, or will the ruling party withstand yet another internal challenge? One thing is clear—his exit has set the stage for a fierce political contest in the months and years ahead.
