Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, on Monday announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He explained that the party had strayed from its founding ideals and lacked internal democracy, prompting his decision to leave.
El-Rufai, a key figure in the formation of the APC, said he had hoped the party would remain true to its core values.
However, he expressed disappointment with recent developments, which he felt ignored the party’s original principles, News About Nigeria reports.
After careful consideration, El-Rufai has decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
He said that the SDP offers a better platform for pursuing democratic ideals, good governance, and national unity.
He also stated that he had consulted with various mentors and colleagues before making this move.
Reflecting on his time with the APC, El-Rufai mentioned his contributions to the party’s success in past elections, including victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023.
Despite his efforts, he claimed that the party’s leadership had disregarded its founding members and treated party members poorly over the past two years.
El-Rufai said that the time had come for him to seek a new political platform to continue his progressive work.
He called on other opposition leaders and parties to join the SDP in creating a unified platform to challenge the APC in future elections.
“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”, he said in a Facebook post.
