The Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
El-Rufai, a founding member of the party, made the announcement on Monday.
Recall that in a recent interview with Arise TV El-Rufai revealed that he will remain active in politics for life but may leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) if the party fails to realign with the progressive values he stands for.
In a statement on Monday, El- Rufai while reflecting on his journey with the APC, El-Rufai expressed his initial hopes that the party’s values would align with his personal principles throughout his political career.
However, he stated that recent developments over the past two years have shown that the current leadership of the APC has failed to address the growing issues within the party. Despite his private and public efforts to raise concerns, El-Rufai made it clear that he can no longer continue in the party that, according to him, has strayed from its founding ideals.
“As a loyal party man, I worked to help secure the APC’s election victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023. My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies to advance human development in education, healthcare, infrastructure, equality of opportunity, job creation, and attracting investments.
However, these records count for little in the current APC, which has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years,” El-Rufai said in his resignation statement.
He added that after consulting with his mentors, colleagues, and loyalists across the country, he had decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
He called on supporters, opposition leaders, and concerned citizens to join the SDP in the pursuit of a unified democratic platform that will challenge the APC in all future elections, including the 2027 general elections.
El-Rufai also emphasized that as a member of the SDP, he would work towards uniting opposition parties to form a strong front for the future of Nigeria, with the aim of making the country a beacon of pride for Africans and the Black race.
The former Kaduna State governor’s decision marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape as he seeks a platform to continue advocating for progressive values and nation-building.
“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,” El-Rufai concluded.