 have dismissed the defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai){kind=link}
The Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have dismissed the defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing it as a flawed move aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu
El-Rufai defection has sparked a backlash from the Presidency and the APC, with both entities downplaying the significance of his move.
El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP has been seen as a strategic move to challenge the APC’s dominance in the 2027 elections. However, the Presidency and the APC have expressed confidence that El-Rufai’s move will not impact their chances in the upcoming elections. The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, stated that El-Rufai defection was driven by “an inordinate ambition that is destined to fail”.
The APC has downplayed the significance of El-Rufai’s defection, describing it as a “political gyration” that will not impact the party’s chances in the 2027 elections. ,The Kaduna APC Secretary, Yahaya Baba-Pate, expressed confidence in the party’s growing strength in the state, pointing to the influx of prominent politicians into the party. Baba-Pate assured APC members that El-Rufai’s departure would not affect the party’s prospects.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP as a mistake. The PDP National Deputy Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, pointed out that a strong politician like El-Rufai should have joined the PDP, which he described as the most powerful opposition party in Nigeria. Osadolor stated that El-Rufai’s defection confirmed the issues within the APC, but expressed surprise that he chose to join the SDP instead of the PDP.
The SDP has welcomed El-Rufai’s defection, describing it as a boost to the party’s chances in the 2027 elections. The SDP presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Adewole Adebayo, praised El-Rufai’s decision to join the party, describing him as a “valuable asset” in the opposition’s strategy to challenge the APC. Adebayo expressed confidence that El-Rufai’s experience and influence would be crucial in the party’s bid to unseat the APC in the 2027 elections.
El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP has significant implications for the 2027 elections. The move is seen as a strategic attempt to challenge the APC’s dominance, but the Presidency and the APC have expressed confidence that it will not impact their chances. The PDP has described El-Rufai’s defection as a mistake, while the SDP has welcomed it as a boost to the party’s chances.