Mass Exodus Rocks Kaduna APC After El-Rufai’s Exit

A wave of defections has swept through the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State following the abrupt resignation of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The exodus began shortly after El-Rufai announced his switch to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), prompting a flurry of resignations from his loyalists within the ruling party. Among them, former commissioners who served under his administration have also severed ties with the APC.

One ex-commissioner expressed frustration with the party’s leadership, citing “hatred and disdain” as driving factors behind the decision to leave. After deep reflection and consultations with key stakeholders, he formally withdrew his membership, returning his registration card and recalling the APC’s past electoral triumphs with a mix of pride and resignation. Another former official, a veteran of the party’s founding merger, lamented the APC’s drift from its original ideals of justice, peace, and unity, declaring that staying aligned with its current form clashed with her core principles. She hinted at further political moves to uphold those values alongside like-minded allies.

Despite the upheaval, the Kaduna APC leadership remains unfazed, brushing off El-Rufai’s departure and the subsequent resignations as inconsequential to its strength. Social media reactions range from shock at the scale of the defections to debates over the APC’s resilience, with some users predicting a domino effect and others dismissing it as a fleeting storm. The defections signal a deepening rift, casting uncertainty over the party’s cohesion in Kaduna as El-Rufai’s influence reverberates beyond his exit.