Former Kaduna State Governor and prominent founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has formally announced his resignation from the ruling party, citing a deepening disconnect between the party’s current direction and the ideals on which it was founded.
In a statement made available on Monday, El-Rufai described his decision as the culmination of months of consultations and reflections on the prevailing realities within the APC.
According to him, the party has strayed significantly from the progressive values and democratic principles that inspired its formation in 2013.
“As a founding member of the APC, I had hoped that my values and those of the party would remain aligned. Sadly, the developments over the past two years show that those currently at the helm have no intention of confronting or correcting the unhealthy state of the party,” he said.
El-Rufai, who served as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, emphasized his contributions to the party’s rise and electoral victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023.
He noted that his administration focused on human capital development, infrastructure growth, education, healthcare, job creation, and investment attraction—all of which he believes have been overshadowed in the party’s current trajectory.
“The APC has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt. I find this no longer acceptable,” he added.
Announcing his next political move, El-Rufai disclosed that he has officially joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a platform he now intends to use in pursuit of his progressive ideals and future political engagements.
He also hinted at broader plans to mobilize opposition voices and encourage a coalition strong enough to mount a formidable challenge against the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“As a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to unify under a democratic platform to challenge the APC,” El-Rufai stated, calling on concerned citizens and supporters to join the movement.