Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, has resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In a statement released on Monday, El-Rufai expressed his deep disappointment with the leadership of the APC, accusing it of abandoning the progressive ideals on which the party was founded. He revealed that, for the past two years, he had privately and publicly raised concerns about the party’s direction, but found no willingness among its leaders to address the growing issues.
El-Rufai said, “The developments over the past two years under the current leadership of the APC have shown a disturbing disregard for the party’s founding principles. At this point in my political journey, I’ve concluded that I must seek a new platform to continue pursuing the progressive values I hold dear.”
Reflecting on his tenure as governor, El-Rufai emphasized his commitment to implementing policies aimed at advancing human development in Kaduna State. He remarked, “My eight years in office were devoted to progressive governance. Unfortunately, in the APC today, those accomplishments are largely ignored, and the party has weakened its internal structures, treating its members with disdain. This is no longer acceptable to me.”
El-Rufai confirmed that he submitted his resignation letter to his ward in Kaduna North Local Government Area. He also endorsed the SDP as the party for his future political endeavors, urging his supporters and other concerned Nigerians to join him in building a united democratic platform to challenge the APC in future elections.
His defection follows a series of high-profile meetings with political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former presidential candidate Tunde Bakare, and ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. It also comes after a number of confrontations with the presidency. Notably, El-Rufai was absent from both the APC national caucus and the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held last month.
El-Rufai: From Tinubu ally to outsider
El-Rufai was one of the prominent northern figures who campaigned for the APC presidential ticket to be given to a southern candidate in alignment with Nigeria’s unwritten power rotation principle. Following the completion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure from the North-West, El-Rufai was an ardent supporter of Bola Tinubu, the former Lagos State governor, during the 2023 presidential race.
Along with his northern colleagues, El-Rufai backed Tinubu against other northern aspirants, including Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former Jigawa State Governor Mohammed Badaru. Tinubu won the APC ticket and eventually secured the presidency in the February 2023 elections.
In what is often seen as part of Nigeria’s compensation politics, Tinubu nominated El-Rufai as a minister following his election. However, El-Rufai’s relationship with the current government soured when the Senate rejected his ministerial nomination in August 2023, citing security concerns raised by the Department of State Services.
Since that rejection, El-Rufai has kept a low profile within the APC, avoiding gatherings of party chieftains and steering clear of the Aso Villa, where the president resides. His absence fueled rumors of a defection, which he initially denied before formally joining the SDP on March 10, 2025.
Additionally, El-Rufai’s relationship with his successor in Kaduna, Uba Sani, has turned contentious. The Kaduna State Assembly has launched an investigation into alleged corruption during El-Rufai’s eight years in office, a charge he vehemently denies.
