According to Daily Independent Newspaper, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State and a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has officially left the ruling party to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The prominent politician attributed his decision to a growing misalignment between his personal values and the current direction of the APC.
In a press statement released on Monday, March 10, 2025, El-Rufai expressed his disappointment with the leadership of the APC, accusing the party of deviating from the progressive ideals established by its founders.
He noted that he had raised concerns regarding the party’s trajectory both privately and publicly over the past two years but found no willingness among the current leadership to address these issues.
“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 stated.
“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 added.
El-Rufai, who played a pivotal role in the formation of the APC in 2013, recalled his efforts in negotiating the merger of political parties that led to the establishment of the ruling party. He highlighted his contributions to the APC’s electoral victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023, as well as his tenure as Governor of Kaduna State, during which he implemented policies focused on education, healthcare, infrastructure, job creation, and investment.
“My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies to advance human development,” he said. “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. I find this no longer acceptable.”
El-Rufai’s resignation from the APC is effective immediately and has been submitted to his ward in Kaduna State. He also announced his decision to join the SDP, describing it as the platform for his future political engagements.
The former Governor called on his supporters and other concerned Nigerians to join him in the SDP, emphasizing the need for a unified democratic platform to challenge the ruling party in 2027
Leave a Reply