A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement posted to his verified Facebook Page on Monday afternoon, Mr El-Rufai said he was leaving the political platform he helped form and joining the opposition Social Democratic Party, (SDP).
The former governor hinted in an Arise News interview on 24 February that he might leave the ruling party.
“I am still in the APC and will remain until when they have completely failed on their founding obligations,” the former governor said in response to a question about his future political plans. “I did not leave the party, the party left me. I will surely leave it and don’t rule that out provided it does not return to the founding principles.”
As Kaduna governor, Mr El-Rufai campaigned vigorously for President Bola Tinubu’s election. He was thereafter nominated for a ministerial position, but the Senate withheld his confirmation, citing a report from the State Security Service (SSS).
Of recent, the former governor drew the battle line with the APC and has been vociferous in his criticism of the ruling party and some of its officials.
