El-Rufai’s Shock Defection Sparks Political Firestorm as Presidency, APC Hit Back

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has ignited a political storm with his dramatic defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), a move seen as a direct challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

El-Rufai, in a scathing critique of the APC, accused the party of derailing from its founding principles and pledged to mobilize opposition forces to unseat the ruling government. “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 by-elections,” he declared.

His defection letter, addressed to his ward in Kaduna State and publicly shared, detailed his frustration with the APC’s leadership. “Since 2013, I have hoped that my personal values and those of the APC will continue to align until I choose to retire from politics. Developments in the last two years confirm that those who currently control and run the APC do not desire to acknowledge, much less address, the party’s unhealthy situation,” he wrote.

The Presidency and the APC wasted no time in hitting back, dismissing El-Rufai’s move as an act of desperation driven by “an inordinate ambition destined to fail.” The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, downplayed El-Rufai’s influence, stating, “We will interrogate the motive in the coming days. Associating with sore losers to unseat the incumbent is not an ideology, neither is it progressivism.”

Similarly, the APC leadership in Kaduna brushed off El-Rufai’s defection as insignificant. Kaduna APC Secretary, Yahaya Baba-Pate, described it as “political gyration,” emphasizing that the party remains solidly behind President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani ahead of 2027.

Beyond Kaduna, El-Rufai’s sudden political maneuvering has sparked intense speculation. His recent high-profile meetings with opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, suggest broader realignments ahead of the next election cycle. At a recent conference on strengthening democracy, El-Rufai openly called for opposition unity against the APC, further fueling speculations about a potential mega coalition.

However, not all opposition figures are convinced. Salihu Lukman, a former APC chieftain involved in the proposed coalition talks, criticized El-Rufai’s defection as premature, stating that “we expected him to be more patient so we could walk out as a group.” Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dismissed his move as a strategic blunder, while the Pat Utomi-led National Consultative Front welcomed him as a key player in the anti-APC movement.

As political realignments intensify, El-Rufai’s defection sets the stage for what could be a fiercely contested 2027 election. While his ability to unify the fractured opposition remains uncertain, his departure from the APC marks a significant rupture within Nigeria’s ruling party. The coming months will reveal whether his bold gamble will reshape the political landscape or end in failure as his critics predict.

El-Rufai Resigns from APC, Joins SDP Citing Leadership Concerns

Former Kaduna State Governor and a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling party, citing fundamental concerns over its leadership and direction. According to ThisDay Nigeria, El-Rufai announced his resignation in a statement released on Monday, expressing disappointment in the party’s deviation from its founding ideals.

El-Rufai criticized the APC leadership for sidelining key members and neglecting pressing internal issues, despite his repeated efforts to address these concerns both publicly and privately. He lamented the party’s drift away from progressive values and stated that recent developments confirmed a lack of willingness among those in control to acknowledge or rectify the situation.

“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 played a crucial role in securing APC’s victories in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 elections. Reflecting on his tenure as Kaduna State Governor, he emphasized his administration’s commitment to education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and investment attraction. However, he asserted that these principles have been abandoned by 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 presents a more credible alternative for progressive governance. He further called on opposition leaders and 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 departure adds to the growing list of prominent figures who have distanced themselves from the APC or voiced discontent with its leadership. His move to the SDP could signal a significant realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.

As El-Rufai embarks on a new political journey, the key question remains: will his defection trigger a mass exodus from the APC, or will the ruling party withstand yet another internal challenge? One thing is certain—his resignation has set the stage for a high-stakes political battle in the months and years ahead.