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 defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai, in a statement released on Monday, March 10, 2025, cited growing concerns over the APC’s leadership and its departure from the progressive ideals upon which it was founded. He accused the party of stifling internal democracy and failing to uphold the values that originally united its members.
Reasons for El-Rufai’s Defection
The former governor expressed deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the APC, stating that his repeated warnings about the party’s decline had been ignored by its current leadership.
“Developments in the last two years confirm that those who control and run the APC have no interest in addressing the unhealthy situation of the party,” El-Rufai said.
“At this stage of my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another platform to continue advocating for the progressive values I hold dear.”
El-Rufai played a crucial role in the 2013 merger that led to the formation of the APC and was instrumental in the party’s victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023. However, he lamented that the party had become unrecognizable from its founding vision.
Why SDP?
Announcing his switch to the SDP, El-Rufai described the party as a better platform for achieving democratic governance and national development. He urged Nigerians who are disillusioned with the APC to join him in the SDP, emphasizing the need for a credible alternative ahead of future elections.
“The APC has sidelined its members and abandoned its democratic processes. I find this unacceptable. The SDP represents a fresh opportunity to build a better Nigeria.”
El-Rufai’s resignation from the APC has already generated political ripples, with analysts predicting that his move could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the next elections.
