By Capital Watch Media
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has announced his resignation from Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and his decision to join the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
In a statement issued on Monday, March 10, 2025, El-Rufai said his resignation from the APC was effective immediately.
“Today, the 10th of March 2025, I have submitted a letter resigning my membership of the APC to my ward in Kaduna, effective immediately,” El-Rufai stated.
He explained that the decision followed extensive consultations with his political mentors, colleagues, and loyalists about his future political direction.
“Subsequent to this, I had concluded consultations with my mentors, colleagues and loyalists alike about the future and have decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP),” he added.
The former governor cited dissatisfaction with the current leadership of the APC and the party’s direction over the past two years as key reasons for his departure.
“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 in the party,” he said.
He also expressed concerns over what he described as a “capricious trajectory” of the APC, which he claimed had deviated from its founding principles.
“On my part, I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party,” El-Rufai said.
El-Rufai acknowledged his attachment to the APC, given his role in its formation, but stated the party had strayed from its original vision.
“I have diligently served the APC and made my contributions to its viability as a political platform but recognise that the party has since strayed,” he remarked.
He highlighted his commitment to democratic and progressive principles, which he said guided his administration in Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.
“My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies to advance human development in education and healthcare,” he noted.
He also accused the APC of sidelining its members and undermining internal party democracy.
“The current APC has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years,” El-Rufai claimed.
As a founding member of the APC, El-Rufai recalled his efforts in negotiating the merger of parties that led to the creation of the APC in 2013.
“It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and that of the APC would align up to the time I choose to retire from politics,” he said.
Looking ahead, El-Rufai announced his plans to collaborate with other opposition leaders and parties under the SDP’s platform.
“As a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us,” he declared.
He stressed the need for a unified platform to challenge the APC in upcoming elections.
“We aim to congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027,” he stated.
El-Rufai called on his supporters and concerned citizens to join the SDP in building a better future for Nigeria.
“I therefore call on all our supporters and other persons concerned about our country’s future to join us in the SDP,” he urged.
The APC has yet to issue an official response to El-Rufai’s resignation and his subsequent defection to the SDP.
