After months of speculation, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, officially announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In his resignation letter, submitted to the APC ward office in Kaduna, el-Rufai cited irreconcilable political differences with the current APC leadership as his reason for leaving.
El-Rufai, a founding member of APC, expressed disappointment with the party’s direction in recent years, criticizing its disregard for democratic principles. He emphasized his contributions to the APC’s success in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 elections but said that his values no longer align with the party’s course. He declared that he would continue his political journey within the SDP, hoping to promote the progressive values he holds dear.
The former governor urged Nigerians who are concerned about the country’s future to join him in the SDP’s efforts to restore Nigeria’s pride. His defection follows an investigation by the State House of Assembly into allegations of embezzling over N432 billion in state funds, which strained his relationship with APC leadership.
In response, APC officials have downplayed the significance of el-Rufai’s exit. Okpokwu Ogenyi, an aide to the APC national chairman, called him a “political lightweight” whose departure would have no impact on the party’s chances in the upcoming 2027 elections. He pointed out that the APC lost in Kaduna during the 2023 elections even with el-Rufai in office, and emphasized that the North-West will continue to support the APC.
Yahaya Baba-Pate, Secretary of the Kaduna APC, echoed these sentiments, asserting that the party’s focus remains on delivering victory for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027, with or without el-Rufai. Similarly, civil rights activist and former senator Shehu Sani also dismissed el-Rufai’s political relevance, suggesting his departure would not affect APC’s fortunes.
On the other hand, SDP welcomed el-Rufai, with the party’s presidential candidate in 2023, Adewole Adebayo, expressing optimism about his membership, citing his hard work and political experience. Adebayo stressed that el-Rufai’s addition would bolster the party’s efforts to combat poverty and insecurity.
In a broader context, political figures like Buba Galadima from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have called for coalitions of individuals, rather than political parties, to unite against APC’s continued dominance. The SDP’s National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, also welcomed el-Rufai but noted that his defection might be motivated by upcoming political alignments for the 2027 elections.
As Nigeria enters a season of political realignments, the impact of defections remains uncertain, but it’s clear that the political landscape is shifting, with major figures moving between parties as the next general election approaches.
