El-Rufai’s Bold Exit: From APC to SDP Amid Party Disillusionment

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has made headlines with his dramatic departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting the party should have expelled him rather than forcing him to justify his exit. In a striking statement, El-Rufai remarked that he quit the APC and dared its leaders to “eat the party if it is food,” signaling his complete break from the ruling party. His recent defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) marks a significant shift in his political journey.

El-Rufai pointed to a growing divide between his personal values and the APC’s current trajectory as the driving force behind his move. He voiced deep frustration with the party’s leadership, accusing it of abandoning the progressive principles that once defined its founding members. In a candid interview, he argued that an expulsion would have spared him the burden of explaining his decision to leave, a party he once vowed would be his last.

“It would have been better for me if they expelled me,” El-Rufai said. “I’ve said many times that APC would be my final political home. Had they kicked me out, I wouldn’t have to explain myself. As it stands, I didn’t leave the APC—the APC left me.” His words reflect a mix of defiance and disappointment, culminating in his challenge to the party’s leadership as he embraces a new chapter with the SDP.