Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In a statement on March 10, 2025, El-Rufai announced that he had submitted his resignation letter to his ward in Kaduna, ending his membership with the ruling party effective immediately. He stated that after consulting with his mentors, colleagues, and supporters, he decided to adopt the SDP as his new political platform.
El-Rufai criticized the APC’s leadership, stating that over the past two years, the party’s direction has shown no willingness to address internal challenges. He expressed concerns about what he described as the party’s deviation from its founding principles, prompting his decision to seek an alternative platform aligned with his progressive values.
Reflecting on his role in the APC, El-Rufai highlighted his contributions to the party’s electoral victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023, as well as his efforts as governor to implement policies focused on education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation. However, he lamented that the APC had sidelined its members and strayed from its original vision.
As a member of the SDP, El-Rufai pledged to work towards uniting opposition leaders under a common platform to challenge the APC in upcoming elections. He urged his supporters and all concerned Nigerians to join the SDP in building a stronger democratic alternative for the country’s future.
