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

A wave of defections has struck the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, triggered by the recent resignation of former governor Nasir El-Rufai from the party. El-Rufai, who officially announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), appears to have sparked a chain reaction, with several of his loyalists also parting ways with the ruling party.

On Monday, resignation letters submitted by prominent figures closely aligned with the former governor were seen circulating, indicating a deepening rift within the party. Among those who have resigned are former Commissioner for Local Government, Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani, and former Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Mohammed Baba. Both submitted formal resignation letters to their respective ward chairmen, citing dissatisfaction with the current state of the APC.

In his letter, Ja’afaru Sani expressed disappointment with the party’s leadership, stating that the level of “hatred and disdain” shown towards them had made it necessary to seek a new political platform. He referenced his past service and the contributions he made to the APC’s success in Kubau Local Government Area, saying the decision followed deep reflection and consultations with stakeholders.

Hafsat Baba, in her letter, pointed to a loss of the party’s founding vision, saying the APC had strayed from its core principles of justice, peace, and unity. As a founding member through the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, she criticized the APC’s current trajectory as a betrayal of the ideals that originally drew her to the party.

Despite the defections, the Kaduna APC has downplayed the developments, stating that it is not losing sleep over El-Rufai’s departure or the exit of his allies.