The immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Nasir El-Rufai, has resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after falling out with the party.
In a statement on Monday, the founding member of the APC said he was leaving the fold for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), submitting his membership card of his erstwhile party to his ward in Kaduna State.
He described his new party as the platform for his future political engagements, urging his supporters and other concerned Nigerians to join him in the SDP, emphasizing the need for a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC.
Recall that last month, in an interview with Arise TV, Mr El-Rufai ruled out pitching tenth with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He claimed the APC was not following the tenets of its founding fathers, also attributing his rejection as a minister in the current administration to President Bola Tinubu, who he said earlier publicly begged him to join his government.
In the statement announcing his defection today, the politician said he was disappointed with the party’s leadership, saying he cannot remain with a group straying from the progressive ideals.
“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party.
“At this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish,” he said.
“My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies to advance human development. These records count for little in the current APC that has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years. I find this no longer acceptable,” the former governor stated.