Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), ending his long-standing affiliation with the party he helped establish.
His resignation letter, which surfaced on social media, has been confirmed by associates, even as his spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, remains silent. In the letter, dated March 10, 2025, El-Rufai stated that recent developments in the APC convinced him that the party’s leadership was no longer committed to addressing its internal issues.
“As a founding member of the APC, I had hoped my personal values would remain aligned with those of the party until my retirement from politics. However, over the past two years, it has become clear that those currently in charge have no interest in acknowledging or resolving the party’s problems,” El-Rufai wrote.
Sources close to the former governor revealed that he had been in discussions with key opposition figures before making his move. Notably, he recently met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola. His defection is expected to significantly alter the political landscape, particularly in the North.
Meanwhile, his ally, Nasiru Abdullahi Maikano, was recently appointed as the interim chairman of the SDP’s Caretaker Committee in Kaduna State, signaling a strategic realignment of political forces in the region.
