Former Kaduna State Governor and founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has announced his resignation from the ruling party, citing a fundamental disconnect between the party’s current leadership and its founding principles.
In a statement released on Monday, March 10, 2025, El-Rufai expressed disappointment over what he described as the APC’s departure from its core values, stating that recent developments within the party have shown an unwillingness to address internal challenges.
“As a founding member of the APC, I had hoped that my personal values and those of the party would remain aligned until my eventual retirement from politics. However, the events of the last two years confirm that the party’s leadership has no desire to acknowledge or resolve its internal crises,” he said.
El-Rufai, who played a key role in APC’s victories in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 general elections, emphasized his contributions to the party and his tenure as Kaduna State Governor, during which he implemented progressive policies in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. However, he lamented that the party’s recent trajectory has left him disillusioned.
“The APC has castrated its internal organs and treated its members with contempt. This is no longer acceptable to me,” he added.
El-Rufai confirmed that he has formally submitted his resignation letter to his ward in Kaduna, effective immediately, following consultations with political allies across the country. He has now joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which he intends to use as a platform for future political engagements.
“As a member of the SDP, I will work towards uniting opposition leaders and parties under a common democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections leading up to 2027,” he stated.
He called on his supporters and all Nigerians committed to national progress to join him in the SDP, pledging to contribute towards making Nigeria a beacon of hope for Africa and the Black race.
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