The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress, APC, and joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP. As a founding member of the APC, El-Rufai played a key role in the formation of the APC in 2013. He recalled his efforts in negotiating the merger of political parties that led to the creation of the ruling party and highlighted his contributions to the APC’s electoral successes in 2015, 2019, and 2023, as well as his tenure as Kaduna State governor, during which he implemented policies focused on education, healthcare, infrastructure, job creation, and investment.
The prominent politician cited a growing misalignment between his personal values and the current direction of the APC as the primary reason for his decision. Despite his contributions, he stated that concerns about governance and internal party dynamics had led him to seek a new political home.
In his resignation letter submitted to his ward in Kaduna State on Monday, he stated: “I have diligently served the APC and made my contributions to its viability as a political platform.”
The former Governor noted that he had raised concerns about the party’s path both privately and publicly over the past two years but found no willingness among the current leadership to address the issues.
The statement reads, “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 stated.
El-Rufai has continued to consult widely, with his recent visit to former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and renowned cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare in Lagos.
This came after some of his associates, especially in Kaduna recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a development which heightened speculations that he might decamp to the party.
Announcing his move to the SDP, El-Rufai expressed gratitude to his mentors, colleagues, and supporters, reaffirming his dedication to democratic principles.
“As a member of the SDP, I am committed to fostering a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in upcoming elections,” he asserted.
He urged Nigerians who share his concerns about the country’s future to join him in building the SDP into a viable alternative while emphasizing the need to position Nigeria as a beacon of pride for Africa and the Black Race.
El-Rufai concluded his statement with a call for unity and progress, vowing to dedicate his efforts to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic experience.
