In a dramatic turn of events, former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai made the announcement on his verified Facebook page on Monday, confirming his departure from the party he helped to establish. His resignation letter, which had already been circulating earlier in the day, put an end to mounting speculation about his political future.
Although El-Rufai’s spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, initially refrained from commenting on the matter, sources close to the former governor confirmed that his defection had been in the works for quite some time. A former commissioner in El-Rufai’s administration, speaking to Daily Trust, revealed that El-Rufai had finalized his plans to leave the APC.
“Yes, we have all been expecting that he would tender his resignation from APC today, Monday, 10th March 2025, and join SDP,” the source said. “That’s what we’ve all been waiting for.”
The leaked resignation letter did not come as a surprise to El-Rufai’s close allies, as his supporters had long anticipated this move.
This defection marks a significant political shift as Nigeria looks toward the 2027 general elections. El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, played an instrumental role in the merger of opposition parties that led to the formation of the ruling party in 2013. However, in his resignation letter, El-Rufai expressed deep dissatisfaction with the current leadership of the APC, describing the party’s direction as “capricious” and “unhealthy.”
“Recent developments have confirmed that there is no interest from those currently controlling and managing the APC to acknowledge or address the unhealthy situation within the party,” he stated. “I have raised concerns, both privately and publicly, regarding the erratic path the party is on.”
El-Rufai further lamented that his values no longer aligned with the party’s actions and leadership, emphasizing the disconnect between his past efforts and the APC’s current state.
“As a loyal party member, I worked hard to secure the APC’s electoral victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023. Yet, these contributions have been rendered insignificant in a party that has systematically weakened its structures and treated its members with disdain in the last two years. This I can no longer accept.”
In his resignation letter, El-Rufai formally declared his membership in the SDP, calling on opposition leaders and Nigerians yearning for change to join the party. He also hinted at the possibility of forming a broader coalition of opposition parties to challenge the APC in future elections.
“While I have made this decision, I will continue to engage with and persuade other opposition leaders and parties to unite under a shared democratic platform to challenge the APC in all upcoming elections, including bye-elections, between now and 2027, God willing.”
