In a move that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape, former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

El-Rufai made the announcement in a post on his verified Facebook page on Monday, confirming his departure from the party he helped build. His resignation letter, which had already gone viral earlier in the day, put an end to speculation surrounding his next political move.

While his spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, initially declined to comment on the matter, sources close to the former governor confirmed that his defection had been in the works for some time. A former commissioner in his administration, speaking to Daily Trust, revealed that El-Rufai had finalised plans to leave the APC.

“Yes, we are all aware that he (El-Rufai) will tender his resignation from APC today, Monday, 10th March 2025, and join SDP. That is all we have been waiting for,” the source said.

The leaked letter did not come as a surprise to El-Rufai’s inner circle, as his supporters had been anticipating the move for months.

El-Rufai’s resignation signals a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections. As a founding member of the APC, he played a crucial role in merging opposition parties to form the ruling party in 2013. However, his letter outlined deep dissatisfaction with the party’s current trajectory, which he described as “capricious” and “unhealthy.”

He stated: “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 situation of the party. On my part, I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party.”

El-Rufai further expressed his disillusionment with the APC’s leadership, stating that his values no longer aligned with the party.

“As a loyal party man, I worked to help secure the APC’s election victories in 2015, 2019 and 2023… These records count for little in the current APC that has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years. I find this no longer acceptable.”

In his resignation letter, El-Rufai officially declared his membership in the SDP, calling on opposition leaders and Nigerians seeking change to join the party. He hinted at a broader coalition of opposition parties to challenge the APC in upcoming elections.

“Without prejudice to this decision, as a member of the SDP, 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.”