“As a member of the SDP, I am committed to fostering a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in upcoming elections.”
With these words, former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, quit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) today, Monday, March 10 -an act likely to spark massive political consequences across board in the country.
For one, he has thrown his hat in the ring, clearly expressing his intention to oust President Bola Tinubu and APC from power in 2027.
Explaining why he left APC, El-Rufai pointed to irreconciliable differences with the present leadership.
A central figure in the crafting of the alliance that birthed the APC and ousted the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan from office in 2015, the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) disclosed his fresh political journey in a letter of resignation submitted on Monday to his Nasarawa Ward in Kaduna State.
Expressing frustration with the APC’s direction in recent years, El-Rufai said he diligently served the party ensuring it won general elections in 2015, 2019 and 2023.
He said: “I have diligently served the APC and made my contributions to its viability as a political platform.
“However, developments in the last two years have confirmed a troubling disregard for democratic principles and progressive values that I hold dear.”
Stressing his leading role in APC’s electoral victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023, the former governor listed his achievements as two-term Kaduna governor to include areas of human development, education, healthcare, infrastructure, job creation, and investment.
“At this point in my political journey, I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish,” he said.
Rallying support for SDP, El-Rufai urged all Nigerians bothered about the country’s future to join him in the party’s bid to reposition the country as Africa’s true pride and the face of the black man.
*Additional reports coming.
