Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has laid to rest speculations about his imminent defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The astute northern politician announced his departure in a statement on Monday, March 10, 2025. El-Rufai explained that after extensive consultations, he was joining the little-known Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a platform to continue pursuing his progressive political ideals.
The former governor said his previous party had deviated from its founding principles and lacked internal democracy.
El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, said he had hoped the party’s core values would remain intact, but recent events convinced him otherwise.
“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,” he stated.
He further noted that his contributions to the party’s successes, including the electoral victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023, had been disregarded by the current leadership. “The APC has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years. I find this no longer acceptable.”
Announcing his decision to join the SDP, El-Rufai described the party as a better platform for promoting democratic values, good governance, and national unity. “I have now decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and adopt it as the platform for our future political engagements and activities.”
SDP Heavyweights Throw Open Their Hands
The Presidential candidate of the SDP in 2023, Adewole Adebayo, welcomed El-Rufai to the party.
Taking to X almost immediately after El-Rufai’s announcement, Adebayo expressed his excitement, saying the former governor’s entry strengthens the party’s mission to rescue Nigeria from years of poor governance and economic decline.
“On behalf of the teeming members of the @TheSDPNg and patriotic democrats who believe in Nigeria and her promise of inevitable greatness, I heartily welcome my dear brother @elrufai to our party. With the hardworking and sagacious Mallam joining our ranks, an avid worker for the people has been enlisted in our forces against poverty and insecurity,” Adebayo wrote.
He underscored the party’s commitment to fulfilling Chapter 2 of Nigeria’s Constitution, which addresses fundamental human rights, social justice, and economic development.
Adebayo urged like-minded democrats and nationalists to join the SDP’s movement for national restoration. “Good politics begets good governance. Let no one sit on the fence any further. There is no time to waste. Join us on the March Again! God bless Nigeria,” he added.
It is believed that Nasir El-Rufai is nursing presidential ambitions for 2027. A political ally of President Bola Tinubu, it surprised many when he didn’t get a ministerial slot in the government.
El-Rufai himself said he believed the president didn’t want him in his government. He has since opposed several policies of the government and actions of his former party.
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