Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), ending months of speculation about his political future.

In a statement announcing his decision, el-Rufai said the APC had left him with no choice, citing concerns over the party’s trajectory.

“As a founding member of the APC, I had hoped that my values and those of the party would remain aligned until my retirement from politics. However, the developments of the last two years confirm that those in control of the APC have no intention of addressing its unhealthy situation,” he stated.

El-Rufai, who served as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023, expressed disappointment over the party’s deviation from its founding ideals. He said he had raised concerns both privately and publicly but saw no effort to address them.

“I have diligently served the APC and contributed to its viability, but the party has since strayed from the vision of its founding fathers. Therefore, I have decided to join the SDP as the platform for my future political engagements,” he added.

The former governor also declared his commitment to uniting opposition forces against the APC in upcoming elections.

“As a member of the SDP, I will work to bring opposition leaders together under a unified platform to challenge the APC in all elections and by-elections between now and 2027,” he stated.

El-Rufai’s defection comes amid ongoing tensions with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly after the Senate declined to confirm him as a minister. In February, he alleged that Tinubu personally opposed his inclusion in the federal cabinet.

With his move to the SDP, el-Rufai’s next political steps will be closely watched as Nigeria gears up for the 2027 elections.