The Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have downplayed former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), dismissing his plans to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections as futile.
El-Rufai announced his departure from the APC on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences with the party’s leadership. He vowed to unite opposition parties under a single platform to challenge the APC in future elections.
In his resignation letter, El-Rufai lamented that the APC had deviated from its founding principles. He noted that his private and public efforts to address internal issues had been ignored, leaving him with no choice but to seek an alternative political platform.
However, the Presidency dismissed his move as inconsequential. The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, stated that while El-Rufai had the right to switch parties, his motives would be scrutinized.
“We would intellectually remind you that associating with sore losers to unseat the incumbent is not an ideology, neither is it progressivism. It is simply an inordinate ambition that is destined to fail,” Bwala wrote on X.
The Kaduna APC also dismissed El-Rufai’s defection, saying it would not affect the party’s strength in the state. The party’s Secretary, Yahaya Baba-Pate, stated that the APC remained focused on securing Kaduna for Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai’s recent political engagements have fueled speculation about his next moves. He has been seen meeting with prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. His defection has sparked reactions across the political spectrum, with some welcoming his return to the opposition while others question his decision to join the SDP instead of the PDP.
As discussions on a potential opposition coalition continue, El-Rufai’s defection signals the beginning of intensified political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 elections.
