El-Rufai Urges Atiku, Obi, Aregbesola to Join SDP

Abuja, Nigeria  —  Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has called on key political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, to align with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in a bid to challenge the ruling party in the 2027 elections.

Speaking in a recent interview with BBC Hausa, El-Rufai clarified that while he was not advocating for a formal merger of political parties, he believed in the formation of a strong, united opposition force.

Reflecting on his political stance, El-Rufai stated that his past support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 elections was based on expectations that Tinubu’s governance in Lagos State would be replicated at the national level. However, he expressed disappointment, asserting that the current administration had failed to meet those expectations.

His dissatisfaction with the All Progressives Congress (APC) led him to formally resign from the party. In a statement posted on Monday via his official Facebook account, El-Rufai criticized the APC for drifting from its foundational values and failing to address internal challenges. Following consultations with his political allies nationwide, he confirmed that his resignation was effective immediately.

Reacting to his defection, the Kaduna APC chapter dismissed concerns, asserting that his departure had no bearing on the party’s focus.

“We are unbothered by El-Rufai’s decision to leave. Our priority remains securing victory for both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Presidency responded to the political developments, affirming that President Tinubu’s priority was not the 2027 elections but rather the implementation of critical economic reforms. It highlighted growing foreign reserves, a declining inflation rate, and an increasing trade surplus as indicators of progress, noting that Nigeria had attracted over $50 billion in investments as part of the administration’s broader strategy for national growth.

By Enoch Odesola | March 15, 2025