By Abigail Philip David
The Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have downplayed former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and his plan to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
El-Rufai announced his switch from the APC to the SDP on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences with the party’s leadership. He vowed to unite opposition figures under a common platform to unseat the APC government.
“I will focus on engaging and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us in creating a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections,” he declared.
El-Rufai, who was instrumental in the APC’s formation, expressed disappointment with the party’s direction, stating that its leadership had abandoned progressive values.
Presidency, APC React
Reacting to his defection, the Presidency dismissed El-Rufai’s move as an act of desperation. Presidential aide Daniel Bwala stated that while he had the right to change parties, his motivations would be scrutinized.
“We will remind Nigerians that El-Rufai is not a political phenomenon,” Bwala said, adding that “uniting with sore losers to unseat an incumbent is not an ideology; it’s an inordinate ambition destined to fail.”
The Kaduna APC also downplayed El-Rufai’s departure, calling it insignificant. State APC Secretary Yahaya Baba-Pate said the party remained focused on securing victory for Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.
“The APC in Kaduna is growing daily. We are unbothered by El-Rufai’s defection and will not lose sleep over it,” he stated.
El-Rufai’s Political Moves
El-Rufai has recently aligned himself with opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. He attended a national conference on democracy in January alongside opposition leaders and later met with Atiku in Abuja.
His recent political activities, including meetings with former President Muhammadu Buhari and key opposition figures, have fueled speculation about his 2027 ambitions.
Mixed Reactions from Political Circles
While some opposition groups welcomed El-Rufai’s return to their fold, others questioned his choice of the SDP. The Pat Utomi-led National Consultative Front (NCFront) hailed his move, describing him as a formidable force in building an opposition coalition.
“El-Rufai’s coalition-building experience is valuable in efforts to create a mega opposition party,” NCFront Director-General Olawale Okunniyi said, hinting that discussions on the coalition’s final platform would be concluded by July.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) criticized his choice, arguing that a politician of his stature should have joined them instead. PDP National Deputy Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor stated, “The SDP is not the strongest opposition platform. He would have been more effective in the PDP.”
Meanwhile, the SDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, welcomed El-Rufai, calling him a “hardworking and sagacious” leader who would strengthen the party’s fight against poverty and insecurity.
As the 2027 elections approach, El-Rufai’s defection has added to the growing political realignments in Nigeria, setting the stage for intense political maneuvering in the coming months.
