The former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has finally dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

This was contained in a resignation letter he submitted to his APC ward Chairman, citing crisis in the leadership of Kaduna APC.

El-Rufai submitted the letter on Monday and expressed disappointment with the way and manner with which the APC was being administered.

CAPITAL POST reports that El-Rufai was one of the founding members of the All Progressives Congress, a political party he contested and won governorship of Kaduna State and ruled for eight years.

In a letter sighted by journalists, he wrote: “I have diligently served the APC and made my contributions to its viability as a political platform,” he stated. “However, developments in the last two years have confirmed a troubling disregard for democratic principles and progressive values that I hold dear.”

Reflecting on his tenure as Kaduna governor, he highlighted his administration’s focus on 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.

He announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party, SDP, while he expressed his gratitude to his mentors, colleagues, and supporters, reaffirming his commitment to advancing democratic principles.

“As a member of the SDP, I am committed to fostering a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in upcoming elections,” he declared.

El-Rufai urged Nigerians who share his concerns about the country’s future to join him in building the SDP as a viable alternative, emphasizing the need to elevate Nigeria as a beacon of pride for Africa and the Black Race.

El-Rufai concluded his statement with a call for unity and progress, vowing to dedicate his efforts toward strengthening Nigeria’s democratic landscape.

A close source hinted that El-Rufai would be involved in getting the SDP into alliances with other political parties to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027 general election.

As preparation for the 2025 Anambra governorship election continues to gather momentum, an aspirant under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Johnbosco Onunkwo, has emphasized the need for the south-eastern part of the country to be connected to the centre.

The governorship aspirant stated this after scaling through the APC primary screening at the party headquarters in Abuja over the weekend.

Briefing journalists, Onunkwo said APC winning Anambra is crucial as it would bring a breath of fresh air to the state and the entire Southeast by extension.

The governorship hopeful, who pledged commitment to the development of Anambra State, also expressed confidence that he will emerge victorious at the polls if given the opportunity to fly the party’s flag.

“I have also done a lot for this party, and it has endeared me to the people of Anambra State because they are electorally wise.

“Today, we are at a crossroads in Anambra. Are we to talk about security or infrastructure? I also thank the National Chairman of our party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje. In him, I see a man determined for APC to win Anambra State. APC winning Anambra is very important so that the people will have that breath of fresh air, and we can be sure of our 2027. The Southeast must be connected to the centre. We must make that handshake across the Niger,” he stressed.

Speaking on the party’s choice of mode of primary, Onunkwo said that though he preferred direct primary, he must abide by the party’s decision.

He said, “Initially, I was opting for direct primary because the whole APC in Anambra belongs to me. I am the one who has been taking care of it. So, with direct primary, it’s as good as all of us celebrating. But the party has weighed the pros and cons, and they have decided that it will be an indirect primary. Who am I to say otherwise? I will abide by it.”

Expressing loyalty to the party, especially in ensuring that APC unseats the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the governorship aspirant said, “I am a party man. So, if I happen not to win this primary—which I know I will win effortlessly because power is given by God—I will still work for whoever gets the ticket.”

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Abdullahi Ganduje and the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau on Friday received members of the support groups of Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election from the 19 Northern States to the APC.

After receiving the Coalition into APC fold, Ganduje declared death sentence on PDP and NNPP, saying parties are ‘dying at a fantastic rate’.

Operating under the umbrella of the Coalition of Atiku Support Groups in the 19 Northern States in the 2023 general election, the support groups announced their defection from the PDP to the APC at the A-Class Event Centre, Abuja.

They were five representatives from each State across the 19 Northern States including the Federal Capital Territory that attended the political event where they all declared their loyalty to the ruling party, including other Coalition members back home.

The groups said they decided to join the APC and support President Tinubu following Senator Barau’s encouragement.

The Coordinator of the Coalition, Hon Abubakar Malami, said, ” Our groups comprise various strata of society—women, youths, students, traders, academics, and farmers— representing diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.

“In the 2023 general elections build-up, we mobilised our members across the nooks and crannies of the 19 Northern States and the FCT to campaign for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

To the glory of God, Alhaji Atiku and the people around him acknowledged and appreciated the support of our groups. We played a key role in the votes the former vice president polled in the last presidential election.

Cross section of Coalition of Atiku Abubakar Support Groups who defected to APC

“We supported Alhaji Atiku in our quest to address the challenges facing our region, especially the terrorist activities of bandits, which are clogging our people’s wheel to economic activities. Farming, the mainstay of our people, was a no-go area. Our farmlands were turned into kidnappers’ dens.

“However, to the glory of Almighty God, 22 months into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tenure, a fresh air of peace and hope permeates the 19 Northern States. The crashing prices of food items cannot be divorced from the relative peace enjoyed in our region.

“To tackle the challenges facing our region, the President has established the North West Development Commission (NWDC) following a bill sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin. This is the game changer. Mr President has also established the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

“Another thing that has endeared the President Tinubu-led APC government to us is the Barau Initiative for Agricultural Revolution in North West (BIARN), a brainchild of the Deputy President of the Senate. We read in the national dailies that over 500 young farmers millionaires will be created under this initiative in the North West.

“This is what has been lacking in our region. Diversification is the way to go. If this can be replicated in the North East and North Central geopolitical zones, our country will attain food security, and our unemployed youths will be engaged. We are optimistic that our country is on the path to prosperity,” he said.

Following the success being recorded by President Tinubu, he said they have decided to team up with President Tinubu to lead the country to the next level of economic prosperity.

“In 2027, we will work for the continuation of President Tinubu’s administration. Our sincere appreciation goes to His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator (Dr) Barau I Jibrin, CFR, for working hard to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in addressing the challenges facing our region and the country. He is the Sardauna Arewa of our time,” he said.

In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate described the defection of the Atiku supporters in the North as a big catch for the APC in the North.

“It’s a big catch. We are making a big catch today at our party. Mr. President is a very good man. He’s doing his best to reposition Nigeria so it will be turned into a land of prosperity. And it’s good that you understood that and have come to acknowledge what Mr. President is doing.

“It is good that you are teaming up with Mr President so that he will succeed in his effort to change our development trajectory and make this country a land of El Dorado. This is a very good development. Today, we are happy you are joining the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu family.

“You are joining the APC family because it’s a family that cherishes hard work. And for us, we do not discriminate.
” Whoever comes into the party today has the same privileges, the same latitude to operate like someone who has stayed for years.

“The only difference is your hard work. What have you been able to do at the party? So if you do better if you do well, you will even be recognised more than someone who has been around since the party’s inception,” he said.

Describing President Tinubu as the father for all, he said; ” You know he is someone who is known to be at home in all parts of the country, someone who is generous, his hospitality is unprecedented, he has everything that you can think of as a good man and a leader.”

He commended Ganduje for leading the party to victory in all off-season polls and said that since Ganduje became President, APC has been winning elections back to back.

“He has shown capacity. He has shown that he is capable. So we are proud of you. And we thank you for making us proud, we thank you for making Kano state proud, we thank you for making Northwest proud, we thank you for making Nigeria proud because you are someone who is at home everywhere,” he said.

Addressing the groups, the National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, hailed the defection of Atiku’s supporter, describing Senator Barau, who facilitated it, as a real general.

“You are welcome to our party. We are formally receiving you now. But as I have been informed, after the fasting period, all your members will gather here in Abuja, under the leadership of the distinguished Senator Barau, so that we invite Mr President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Vice President himself, where we will have the Senate President and the Right Honorable Speaker, to formally receive all your members to register the death, the collapse, the disappearance of the PDP in Nigeria, not only in the northern part of this country.

“I saw one clip that is trending. Soon, we will have elections in Anambra State. Each political party plans to get its candidates for the contest in the governorship election. But I have seen that PDP has extended its screening deadline because nobody has shown up for the contest.

The extension has also expired. And nobody has showed up for the contest. So I don’t need to tell you, it is a crumbling party.

“We are the greatest beneficiary of the crumbling party. So we welcome you honestly. We welcome you to a party with a progressive ideology. To a party that believes in the rule of law. To the party that believes in internal democracy. To the party that believes in engagement.To the party that says no discrimination.

“We are the most peaceful party in Nigeria—the most peaceful party in Africa. Because we believe in internal democracy, ” he said.

He commended the Deputy President of the Senate for encouraging people from other political parties to join APC.

“We have seen that distinguished Senator Barau is going beyond Kano. He is liberating those people, especially those who are committed to democracy.

He is convincing them to join our party, not only from Kano State, not only from the northern part of this country, but from the whole country. So the distinguished Senator Barau is a real general. So we assure you, Allah will provide his ambition,” he said.