Ex Gov. El-Rufai Dumps APC, Declares Support for Another Party

The Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, CON, has officially tendered his resignation as a member of the ruling political party All Progressive Congress (APC), in a letter submitted today, Monday, 10th March 2025, at his ward in Kaduna. He also announced his new political party affiliation to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as the platform for his future political engagements and activities.

According to a statement released on the ex-governor’s official Facebook page, he reiterated his position and support as a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC): “I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC. It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and those of the APC would continue to align up to the time I choose to retire from politics.

“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 of the party.”

Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai noted that he has raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party. Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform to pursue the progressive values I cherish.

Founders rightly feel attached to the institutions they helped create, but one must be pragmatic enough to admit when a divergence appears unbridgeable. I have diligently served the APC and made my contributions to its viability as a political platform, but I recognize that the party has since strayed and left me stuck in the vision of its well-meaning founding fathers and mothers.

He highlighted his partisan loyalty efforts as he cited his personal commitment to the party and how he helped to secure the APC’s election victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023. “I was one of the many governors elected on the party’s platform in 2015 and 2019, who stood for certain democratic and progressive principles to advance nation-building. My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies to advance human development in education and healthcare, as well as expanding infrastructure, promoting equality of opportunity, creating jobs, and attracting investments. 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. I find this no longer acceptable.”

The statement on the official Facebook page of Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai reads, “Onwards to the future. Today, 10th March 2025, I have submitted a letter resigning my membership from 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.

“Without prejudice to this decision, as a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027 by the grace of God. I therefore call on all our supporters and other persons concerned about our country’s future to join us in the SDP on the journey towards making Nigeria flourish as a beacon of pride for Africans and the Black Race.”

He concluded by saying, thank you, and God bless the Social Democratic Party. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Former Governor Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, CON, has officially tenders his resignation as member of the ruling political party All Progressive Congress APC, in a letter submitted today Monday, 10th March 2025, at his ward in Kaduna, and also announced his new political party affiliation to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), as the platform for his future political engagements and activities.

According to a statement released on the ex governor official facbook page, he reiterated his position and supports as a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC); “I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC. It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and that of the APC will continue to align up to the time I choose to retire from politics.

“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 of the party.”

Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai noted that he has raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party. Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish.

Founders rightly feel attached towards institutions they helped create, but one must be pragmatic enough to admit when a divergence appears unbridgeable. I have diligently served the APC and made my contributions to its viability as a political platform, but I recognize that the party has since strayed and left me stuck in the vision of its well-meaning founding fathers and mothers.

He highlighted his partisan loyalty efforts as he cited his personal commitment with the party and how he helped to secure the APC’s election victories in 2015, 2019 and 2023. “I was one of the many governors elected on the party’s platform in 2015 and 2019, that stood for certain democratic and progressive principles to advance nation-building. My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies to advance human development in education and healthcare, as well as expand infrastructure, promote equality of opportunity, create jobs and attract investments. These records count for little in the current APC that has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years. I find this no longer acceptable.”

The statement on the official Facebook page of Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa reads, “Onwards to the future, 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.

“Without prejudice to this decision, as a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027 by the Grace of God. 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.”

He concluded saying thank you and God Bless the Social Democratic Party. God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.