The ranks of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are swelling following the defection of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
El-Rufai accused the APC of abandoning its founding principles, claiming the government has become commercialized, with everything carrying a price tag. The former governor vowed to challenge the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration during the 2027 elections.
On Thursday, March 13, Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to military leader General Sani Abacha (1993–1998), officially joined the SDP. Al-Mustapha, accompanied by his team, was warmly received by party leaders and supporters at the SDP headquarters in Abuja.
He said his decision reflects his commitment to leadership rooted in justice, security, and progress.
El-Rufai’s A “Divisive” Leader
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Ata, dismissed El-Rufai’s recent political maneuvers as desperate attempts to remain relevant, declaring his political career effectively over.
Ata accused El-Rufai of engaging in “political mischief” after failing to secure a ministerial appointment in President Bola Tinubu’s administration due to an unsuccessful security screening.
Ata further criticized El-Rufai’s tenure as Kaduna governor, describing it as a period marked by insecurity, divisive policies, and failed leadership. Despite El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP and his criticisms of the APC, Ata assured that Tinubu’s government remains focused on fulfilling its promises and will not be distracted by political theatrics.
Ata also highlighted El-Rufai’s controversial tenure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under President Olusegun Obasanjo, noting his abrasive leadership style and contentious policies. This trend, Ata claimed, continued throughout El-Rufai’s political career, including his two terms as Kaduna governor.
“It is, therefore, not surprising that in the present dispensation, while President Tinubu remains focused on tackling the multi-faceted challenges facing Nigeria, El-Rufai has chosen to embark on yet another round of political mischief,” Ata said in a statement issued by his media aide, Seyi Olorunsola.
The minister accused El-Rufai of presiding over severe insecurity in Kaduna from 2015 to 2023, during which ethnic and sectarian violence escalated significantly.
“Under his watch, Kaduna recorded some of the highest fatalities linked to communal conflicts and terrorist activities. Infamously, he once admitted to making payments to foreign militias, a statement that remains a dark stain on his record and raises questions about his role in fostering peace and stability,” Ata noted.
Ata described El-Rufai’s leadership style as divisive, claiming that his policies alienated minority groups and exacerbated communal tensions in the state.
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