In a stunning political shift, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, has announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his decision to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The announcement, made on 10 Monday, March, 2025, marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s political landscape towards the 2027 General Elections as El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, cited a growing disconnect between his progressive values and the ruling party’s current direction.
In a statement titled “Onwards to the Future,” El-Rufai expressed disillusionment with the APC, accusing it of abandoning the democratic and progressive principles that once defined it.
“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,” he declared. “I have now decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).”
The former governor submitted his resignation letter to his ward in Kaduna, effective immediately, following consultations with mentors, colleagues, and loyalists.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna from 2015 to 2023, highlighted his tenure’s focus on education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation, lamenting that “these records count for little in the current APC that has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years.”
A key architect of the APC’s 2013 formation, El-Rufai played a pivotal role in its electoral victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023. However, he argued that the party’s leadership has failed to address its “unhealthy situation.”
The defection is expected to reverberate across northern Nigeria, where El-Rufai wields significant influence.
He vowed to use the SDP as a platform to challenge the APC in future elections, calling on supporters to join him in building a viable opposition. Political analysts see this as a potential game-changer ahead of 2027.
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