Former Kaduna State Governor and founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the party, citing deep-seated concerns over its trajectory and leadership.
In a statement released Monday seen by 9News Nigeria, El-Rufai lamented the decline of the APC from its founding ideals, accusing the party’s current leadership of ignoring pressing internal issues and sidelining its key members.
According to him, despite his efforts to address these concerns both privately and publicly, the ruling party has failed to uphold the progressive values it once championed.
“It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and that of the APC would continue to align up to the time I choose to retire from politics,” he said. “However, 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, who played a crucial role in securing APC’s electoral victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023, expressed disappointment that the party has abandoned its founding principles. Reflecting on his eight-year tenure as governor, he highlighted his administration’s focus on education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and investment attraction—principles he argues are no longer priorities within the APC.
“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,” he added.
Following extensive consultations with political associates, mentors, and supporters nationwide, El-Rufai announced his decision to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which he believes offers a more credible platform for progressive governance. Beyond merely switching allegiance, he called on opposition leaders and other political parties to unite under a single democratic front to challenge the APC in future elections.
“As a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027,” he declared.
El-Rufai’s defection adds to the growing list of political heavyweights who have either distanced themselves from the APC or expressed discontent with its leadership. His move to the SDP could signal a realignment of opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As the former governor embarks on a new political journey, the question remains: will his defection inspire a mass exodus from the ruling party, or will the APC weather yet another storm? One thing is certain, El-Rufai’s departure has set the stage for a high-stakes political battle in the months and years ahead.
