Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has disclosed that his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) was driven by the urgent need to build a political platform free from godfatherism and internal dysfunction.
Speaking with journalists in Kano on Monday, El-Rufai emphasized that Nigeria requires a credible political alternative to overcome what he described as “existential threats” facing the nation.
“Godfatherism and internal dysfunction destroyed the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party. Nigeria deserves better,” El-Rufai stated.
The former governor, who recently joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), explained that he was in Kano to visit the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and to hold strategic meetings with SDP leaders aimed at strengthening grassroots mobilization efforts.
“Kano is critical to any serious political formation because of its consistently high voter turnout. After joining the SDP, it was important to engage with key stakeholders here,” he said.
Political Realities Have Shifted, Says El-Rufai.
Reflecting on his role in the founding of the APC, El-Rufai noted that Nigeria’s political environment has dramatically changed since the party’s creation 12 years ago.
“Back then, we merged three major parties to defeat an incumbent president. Today, the goal is different. We are uniting disaffected members across political divides under an existing platform — the SDP — which we believe has the best pedigree and potential to offer credible leadership,” he explained.
El-Rufai’s recent comments build upon earlier interviews in which he cited multiple reasons for abandoning the APC, including dissatisfaction with the party’s internal practices and performance. He acknowledged that although he and others were aware of controversies surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s past, including allegations of drug-related offenses and document discrepancies, they had supported his 2023 election bid in hopes of positive leadership — a hope he says has not been fulfilled.
Towards a New Political Order.
According to El-Rufai, the SDP offers an opportunity to create a platform built on fairness, meritocracy, and genuine internal democracy — values he believes are essential for Nigeria’s political and economic recovery.
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He dismissed the notion that the SDP is a regional movement, insisting that it represents a national effort to rescue Nigeria from systemic political decay.
“We need a party free from the control of godfathers and built on principles that prioritize the people, not individuals. That is what we are working to establish,” El-Rufai concluded.
His statements come amid reports of ongoing coalition talks involving several political groups aiming to form a formidable opposition under the SDP platform ahead of the next general elections.
