The immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, has explained why he resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the party’s deviation from its founding progressive ideals and the leadership’s failure to address critical concerns within the party.
In a statement issued on Monday, el-Rufai expressed his deep disappointment with the APC’s leadership, claiming that despite his repeated efforts over the past two years to highlight the party’s issues, there was no willingness to engage with or address these concerns. He said he could no longer align himself with the current direction of the party.
“Developments in the last two years on the part of those who currently control and run the APC have failed to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation within the party. 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,” he stated.
El-Rufai added, “My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies to advance human development. However, these records count for little in the current APC that has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt over the last two years. I find this no longer acceptable.”
He disclosed that he had formally submitted his resignation letter to his ward in Kaduna North Local Government Area and declared that he would now pursue his political future with the Social Democratic Party (SDP). El-Rufai also encouraged his supporters and concerned Nigerians to join him in the SDP to create a unified democratic platform capable of challenging the APC in future elections.
El-Rufai’s defection follows a series of high-profile meetings with figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Vice Presidential candidate Tunde Bakare, and former President Muhammadu Buhari. His resignation also follows ongoing confrontations with the presidency, including his absence from the APC national caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings last month.
A key northern figure in the APC, el-Rufai had been a vocal advocate for the party’s presidential ticket to be given to a southern candidate in the 2023 general elections. He was one of the prominent supporters of Bola Tinubu, who ultimately clinched the APC ticket and won the presidency.
