El-Rufai’s Exit ‘Means Nothing’ to APC says Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena, has criticised Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), saying the former Kaduna State governor is part of the APC’s internal problems. Speaking on Radio Now’s ‘The Big Story’ with Zainab Balogun-Olowu, Mr. Nabena accused El-Rufai of contributing to party tensions during the APC presidential primaries, where he strongly backed the shift of power to the south.  

Nabena questioned whether El-Rufai’s move was driven by personal interests following his unsuccessful ministerial nomination. He argued that El-Rufai’s exit “means nothing to the APC,” claiming the former governor’s departure could even attract more members to the ruling party.  

Also Read: Governor Fubara Pledges Full Implementation of Supreme Court Ruling in Rivers State

Meanwhile, SDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Adebayo Adewole, has defended El-Rufai’s decision to join his party. Adewole described El-Rufai as a respected public servant, citing his record as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where he said no one had delivered similar transformation.  

The development comes amid ongoing political realignments ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with both parties positioning themselves for broader support.