Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
His defection, announced on Monday, March 10, 2025, marks a significant political shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.
El-Rufai’s Statement on His Defection
El-Rufai made his resignation public in a statement shared on his official Facebook page, where he expressed disappointment over the APC’s leadership. He lamented that the party had strayed from its founding ideals and no longer upheld democratic values.
“As a founding member of the APC, I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC. 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.”
“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 noted that despite raising concerns privately and publicly, the APC leadership remained unresponsive. According to him, the party’s structures had been weakened, and its members had been sidelined.
“Today, 10th March 2025, I have submitted a letter resigning my membership of the APC to my ward in Kaduna, effective immediately. Prior to this step, I had concluded consultations with my mentors, colleagues, and loyalists across the country about the future. I have now decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and adopt it as the platform for our future political engagements and activities.”
El-Rufai further called on opposition leaders to unite under the SDP and challenge the APC in upcoming elections.
“Without prejudice to this decision, 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 by the Grace of God. I therefore call on all our supporters and other persons concerned about our country’s future to join us in the SDP in the journey towards making Nigeria flourish as a beacon of pride for Africans and the Black Race.”
Tensions Within the APC
Noting that El-Rufai’s resignation from the APC comes after months of speculation about his strained relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Despite supporting Tinubu’s election in 2023, his nomination for a ministerial position was blocked due to alleged security concerns, further fueling his discontent with the ruling party.
