Nasir El-Rufai, a prominent Nigerian politician and former governor of Kaduna State, has announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party, and his decision to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In a statement released on Monday, Mr. El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, expressed deep disappointment with the party’s current direction, stating that it had “strayed” from the progressive ideals of its founding members.
He attributed his decision to a “growing misalignment” between his personal values and the actions of the APC’s current leadership. Mr. El-Rufai accused the party of “castrating its organs” and treating its membership with “contempt” over the past two years, citing a lack of willingness to address the party’s “unhealthy situation”. He emphasized that he had raised concerns both privately and publicly about the “capricious trajectory” of the APC.
Mr. El-Rufai, who served two terms as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, highlighted his contributions to the APC’s electoral victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023. He also pointed to his administration’s implementation of “progressive policies” in Kaduna State, focusing on human development, infrastructure, and equality of opportunity. However, he stated that these achievements “count for little” in the current APC.
In his statement, Mr. El-Rufai revealed that he had consulted with mentors, colleagues, and supporters across the country before making the decision to join the SDP. He announced his intention to use the SDP as a platform to unite other opposition leaders and parties, aiming to create a “unified democratic platform” to challenge the APC in future elections. He called on his supporters and those concerned about Nigeria’s future to join him in the SDP.
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