Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taunted the former governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai for decamping to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), saying that with or without him, the party is still capable of winning the state for president Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Reports said the former Kaduna State Governor and founding member of the All Progressives Congress, Nasir El-Rufai, dumped the ruling party for the SDP on Monday.
Reacting, the Secretary of the Kaduna APC, Alhaji Yahaya Baba-Pate, said the party remained unmoved by the defection of the former governor, adding that the party is focused on delivering the state to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027.
Baba-Pate, who spoke to journalists in Kaduna on Monday, expressed confidence in the party’s growing strength in the state, citing the influx of high-profile politicians joining the party daily in the state.
He said, “We are not perturbed by former governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to another party. Our main focus in Kaduna is on how to deliver the state to both President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and governor Uba Sani in 2027.
“The APC in Kaduna State is growing day by day, judging from the calibre of politicians streaming into the party on a daily basis. So, we are not disturbed by anybody defecting to another party based on our governor’s inclusive governance in the state.
“We are not disturbed and we are not going to lose our sleep over El-Rufai’s moves. The party in the state is growing more than before.”
Why stating the reason for his defection, El-Erufai mentioned a growing misalignment between his personal values and the current direction of the APC as the primary reason for his defection.
El-Rufai disclosed this in a press statement released on his X handle on Monday, where he expressed his disappointment with the APC’s leadership, accusing the party of straying from the progressive ideals of its founding members.
“As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC.
“Since 2013, I have hoped that my personal values and those of the APC will continue to align until I choose to retire from politics,” El-Erufai said.