The Presidency and the Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday brushed aside the defection of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
While acknowledging his constitutional right to switch parties, both the Presidency and the APC expressed confidence that El-Rufai’s move to align with forces aiming to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 would end in failure.
Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala labeled the defection as “an inordinate ambition that is destined to fail,” while Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, suggested that El-Rufai’s decision stemmed from his disappointment at not being appointed a minister.
Onanuga noted that the former governor had been vocal in his criticism of Tinubu and the APC since missing out on a cabinet position, despite his significant contributions to Tinubu’s electoral victory.
The Kaduna APC, led by Secretary Yahaya Baba-Pate, echoed this sentiment, stating it would not “lose sleep” over El-Rufai’s exit.
Baba-Pate emphasized the party’s growing strength in the state, with new members joining daily, and its focus on securing victories for both Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027. Similarly, Senator Shehu Sani predicted that El-Rufai would lack political relevance in Kaduna by 2027, arguing that his departure has bolstered the APC by allowing those he previously alienated to return and collaborate with the current governor.
El-Rufai announced his defection on March 10, 2025, via a Facebook post titled “Nigeria Update: Onwards to the Future.” In it, he accused the APC leadership of straying from its founding principles and undermining internal democracy. Citing a “growing misalignment” with the party’s direction, he resigned his membership effective immediately and declared his intent to join the SDP as a platform for future political activities.
He called on opposition leaders and supporters to unite under the SDP to challenge the APC in upcoming elections, framing his move as a step toward revitalizing Nigeria’s democratic future.
However, Bwala dismissed El-Rufai’s defection as a personal rather than ideological shift. In a post on X, he vowed to scrutinize the former governor’s motives, arguing that aligning with “sore losers” to oppose the government does not constitute progressivism.
Onanuga, speaking on a television program, urged El-Rufai to move on from his grievances, noting that while his efforts in Tinubu’s rise were appreciated, his reaction to being sidelined was akin to “crying over spilt milk.”
The Kaduna APC reiterated its confidence, with Baba-Pate telling reporters that the party remains unperturbed and is focused on delivering results. “The APC in Kaduna State is growing day by day,” he said, downplaying El-Rufai’s departure as inconsequential to its momentum.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna from 2015 to 2023 under the APC banner, had been a founding member of the party since its formation in 2013.
His exit marks a significant shift, though the Presidency and APC maintain it will not derail their plans.
