The Presidency has stated that former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) due to his excessive political ambitions, which, it claims, are doomed to fail.

However, El-Rufai countered that the current state of affairs within the APC was unhealthy, prompting his decision to quit, thus ending months of speculation about his political future.

Special Adviser on Policy Communications to President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, made the assertion in a social media post. Despite this, the Kaduna State chapter of the APC said it was unbothered by El-Rufai’s defection.

Similarly, former APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Dr Salihu Lukman, suggested that El-Rufai should have exercised more patience, as ongoing negotiations could have facilitated a collective exit from the party.

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Bwala questioned El-Rufai’s motives, stating that his ambition was the primary reason for his departure from the APC.

He wrote, “I read today that you have resigned from the APC to join the SDP. While I have no issue with your constitutional right to switch parties, the motive is what we will scrutinise in the coming days.

“We will remind Nigerians that you are not a phenomenon that appeared like a thunderclap in a clear sky. Associating with disgruntled politicians to unseat an incumbent is neither an ideology nor progressivism; it is merely an inordinate ambition that is bound to fail.”

El-Rufai, in a statement titled Onwards to the Future, formally announced his defection to the SDP. He vowed to persuade other opposition leaders and parties to unite under the SDP and challenge the APC in upcoming elections.

The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) reflected on his role in the formation of the APC, noting that he had once hoped his values aligned with those of the party. However, he expressed disillusionment with its current trajectory.

“I have raised concerns, both privately and publicly, about the party’s erratic direction,” he stated. “At this point in my political journey, I have decided to seek another platform to pursue the progressive values I hold dear.”

El-Rufai lamented that the APC had abandoned the ideals of its founders, rendering it unrecognisable. “As a loyal party member, I contributed to securing electoral victories for the APC in 2015, 2019, and 2023. However, the party’s internal structures have been undermined, and its membership has been disregarded over the past two years. This is unacceptable to me.”

He confirmed that he had formally resigned from the APC on 10 March 2025 after consulting with political allies across the country. He also called on his supporters and others concerned about Nigeria’s future to join him in the SDP to build a stronger opposition.