In a shocking political move, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has declared that he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the full knowledge and approval of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, exposing deep cracks within the ruling party.
El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, officially defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Monday, citing widespread corruption and betrayal of the party’s founding principles. Speaking to the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, he revealed that he personally informed Buhari of his decision, adding that the APC had become a party of self-serving politicians who prioritize personal wealth over governance.
“The APC abandoned the ideals that led to its formation. It has abandoned the people. Everyone is now pursuing personal interests and wealth. The government has become a business enterprise where everything has a price,” El-Rufai stated.
He further accused a “select group from Lagos” of controlling appointments in the Tinubu-led administration, claiming that those who worked hard for the party’s success were being sidelined.
“The party is dead,” he declared bluntly.
El-Rufai also reaffirmed that the APC initially agreed to zone the presidency to the South for the sake of fairness but now operates in a manner contrary to that agreement.
While insisting he has no regrets supporting President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 elections, he admitted being “taken by surprise” by Tinubu’s actions so far. He justified his support for Tinubu by revealing that Yoruba Muslim leaders from the South-West had approached him, alleging political marginalization.
His defection has sparked intense debate, with critics seeing it as an indictment of the APC’s leadership, while others view it as a strategic move to position himself for future poli
tical influence.
