Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of orchestrating and funding the internal crises plaguing opposition parties, including the Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

 

Speaking at the Social Democratic Party (SDP) secretariat in Kaduna on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, El-Rufai described the turmoil in these parties as “contrived crises” aimed at weakening opposition leaders. He specifically referenced the leadership struggles in the Labour Party and the recent expulsion of NNPP leader Rabiu Kwankwaso and Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as evidence of political interference.

 

“The crisis that Aunty Nenadi is facing in the Labour Party is contrived and funded by the government of the day. Everyone knows it. Jumping from one court to another is all designed to distract the party’s leadership from focusing on their core functions,” he alleged.

 

El-Rufai, however, did not provide specific names or concrete evidence to back his claims but insisted that government-backed operatives were deliberately causing unrest within opposition parties.

 

El-Rufai Dumps APC, Joins SDP

 

After months of speculation, El-Rufai officially announced his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and his defection to the SDP. Citing “irreconcilable political differences” with the APC leadership, he submitted his resignation letter to the party’s ward office in Kaduna on Monday.

 

“I have diligently served the APC and made my contributions to its viability as a political platform. However, developments in the last two years have confirmed a troubling disregard for democratic principles and progressive values that I hold dear,” El-Rufai stated.

 

He emphasized his role in securing electoral victories for the APC in 2015, 2019, and 2023, while highlighting his achievements in Kaduna State, including human development, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation.

 

“As a member of the SDP, I am committed to fostering a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in upcoming elections,” he declared, calling on Nigerians to join him in building a viable alternative for 2027.

 

Reactions Trail El-Rufai’s Defection

 

El-Rufai’s departure from APC has sparked mixed reactions, with some dismissing his influence while others question the implications of his move.

 

APC: El-Rufai is a Featherweight

An aide to APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Okpokwu Ogenyi, downplayed El-Rufai’s exit, calling him a “political lightweight” whose departure would have no impact on the 2027 elections.

 

“Was El-Rufai not a sitting governor when APC lost Kaduna in the 2023 elections? What difference does it make now that he is out of government?” Ogenyi questioned.

 

Kaduna APC: We Won’t Lose Sleep

Similarly, Kaduna APC Secretary Yahaya Baba-Pate said the party remained unbothered by El-Rufai’s defection, insisting that the party’s focus is on delivering victory for President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.

 

“We are unperturbed by El-Rufai’s defection. Our priority is ensuring that Kaduna remains an APC stronghold,” Baba-Pate stated.

 

Shehu Sani: El-Rufai Has Lost Political Relevance

Former Senator Shehu Sani also dismissed El-Rufai’s move, saying his political influence had declined significantly.

 

“Leaving APC for SDP won’t make any difference for someone with no political relevance anymore,” Sani remarked, adding that Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani remain favored to win reelection in 2027.

 

El-Rufai’s defection comes amid tensions between him and the APC leadership, particularly after he was denied a ministerial appointment and following an investigation by the Kaduna State House of Assembly that indicted him over alleged mismanagement of N432 billion in state funds.