Accuses party of abandoning founding ideals | APC: We’re not perturbed by El-Rufai’s exit | Atiku, Aregbesola, others poised to join SDP | LP confirms talks with coalition, eyes leading coalition in 2027 | Asserts party logo will be on ballot in 2027 | Serving ministers, former Buhari’s aides in secret meeting with opposition, says sources
By Our Correspondents
Former Kaduna State Governor and founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling party and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State chapter of the APC has stated that it remains unperturbed by El-Rufai’s resignation from the party. This comes amid growing speculation that some members of the APC, including serving ministers and other individuals who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, are closing ranks with opposition forces to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.
El-Rufai was recently seen meeting with former President Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar, and other prominent political figures from different political parties. His defection did not come as a surprise to many, as speculation had been rife for some time that he had been gradually distancing himself from the APC.
This development follows closely on the heels of a statement by former President Atiku Abubakar, in which he revealed his efforts to form a coalition of political parties aimed at challenging the APC in the 2027 elections.
El-Rufai’s resignation was accompanied by the departure of two commissioners who served under his administration. They are Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, who held various positions, including Commissioner for Local Government, Education, and Environment, and Hafsat Mohammed Baba, who previously served as Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development in Kaduna State.
Spear News reported last week that El-Rufai was anticipated to join the SDP, following an interview with the party’s National Chairman, Shehu Musa Garba, published in Daily Trust. Garba, in the interview, revealed that he had been in discussions with the former Kaduna State Governor regarding a potential coalition.
El-Rufai on Monday, made his position clear in a statement shared on his verified social media accounts. He expressed his disappointment with the current state of the APC, citing a lack of alignment with the progressive values he championed during the party’s formation in 2013.
According to the former governor of Kaduna State, the APC had deviated from the vision of its founding members and failed to address internal issues, leading to what he described as an “unbridgeable divergence.”
“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy state of the party,” El-Rufai stated. He added that his concerns, raised both privately and publicly, had been ignored, leaving him with no choice but to seek a new political platform.
El-Rufai, a key figure in the APC’s rise to power, played a pivotal role in securing the party’s victories in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 presidential elections. However, he noted that these achievements now “count for little” in the current APC, which he accused of sidelining its members and undermining its democratic structures.
The former governor revealed that he had submitted his resignation letter to his ward in Kaduna State, effective immediately. He also announced his decision to join the SDP, describing it as the new platform for his political engagements.
El-Rufai called on his supporters and like-minded Nigerians to join him in the SDP, emphasising the need for a unified opposition to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.
“I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and bye-elections between now and 2027, by the Grace of God,” he declared.
El-Rufai concluded his statement with a call for unity and progress, urging Nigerians to work together to build a prosperous nation. “I call on all our supporters and other persons concerned about our country’s future to join us in the SDP in the journey towards making Nigeria flourish as a beacon of pride for Africans and the Black Race,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that it is “not disturbed” by the defection of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The APC in Kaduna, through its secretary Yahaya Pate, emphasised that the party remains focused on delivering Kaduna State to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.
Pate stated, “We are unperturbed by former governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to another party. Our focus in Kaduna is on how to deliver the state to both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani come 2027.” He added that the APC in Kaduna is growing stronger, with prominent politicians joining daily, and that the party is not losing sleep over El-Rufai’s move.
In related development, former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and many others who have aligned themselves with El-Rufai and Atiku are reportedly in an ongoing negotiations to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Additionally, sources have disclosed that former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, former Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu, along with several disenchanted members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ex-ministers who served under President Muhammadu Buhari, are also engaged in talks to align with the SDP.
This development coincides with ongoing discussions among opposition parties to form a coalition, aiming to present a unified front capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 elections.
According to a source, the coalition efforts are expected to include Atiku Abubakar’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi’s faction of the Labour Party (LP), and Nasir El-Rufai, who recently defected to the SDP.
Reports indicate that the opposition parties are considering consolidating under an existing registered party. However, should they fail to reach a consensus on a shared platform, they are likely to align with the SDP as an alternative.
Recall that former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, stated that merger talks among opposition politicians have been gaining momentum.
The former PDP spokesman said defeating the current government would be achievable with the plans being formulated by opposition leaders.
Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with Spear News, the Labour Party clarified that Peter Obi has not indicated any intention to leave the party, as speculated in the media, though he retains the right to do so. The party confirmed being in talks with other political parties for a possible coalition, though insisted that a merger is not on the table.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, stated that Obi has the right to join any political party, depending on where his interests lie. However, he maintained that the Labour Party’s name would be on the ballot in 2027.
He said: “In politics, people are free to move from one party to another. It depends on where one’s interests lie. Some other people are also discussing joining the Labour Party, though I will not elaborate until it materialises.
“Obi has not said he is leaving the Labour Party, and we are not going to trouble ourselves over speculation. That is our position. He remains our member until he states otherwise.”
“The name of the Labour Party will be on the ballot in 2027,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Spear News learned from a credible source that there are moles in Tinubu’s cabinet, including serving ministers, as well as former aides of a an ex-president, are also in discussions to join the coalition. The source cautioned Tinubu to remain vigilant, warning of potential spies within his cabinet.
The meeting is undoubtedly linked to the recent political developments in the country. According to sources, it was convened shortly after El-Rufai’s resignation and was organised by some persons within the APC who are sympathetic to El-Rufai’s cause.
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