The former governor of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai, has officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following months after his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
He completed his registration and received his ADC membership card at the party’s Ungwan Sarki ward office in Kaduna, accompanied by supporters, including former aides and local government chairmen.
El-Rufai, once a key figure in the merger that produced the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015 elections, criticised the party for deviating from its founding ideals.
He later joined the SDP, but his membership was short-lived as the party expelled him, banning him from political involvement within its ranks for 30 years.
In his resignation letter from the SDP dated 26 November 2025, El-Rufai stated that his focus is on supporting the emergence of a broad political alliance capable of presenting Nigerians with a credible alternative.
“I wish to notify you that I have resigned my membership of the SDP, effective 26 November 2025,” the letter reads.
“My focus remains on making my contributions to strengthening a unified democratic platform to offer a political alternative to the people of Nigeria.”
Earlier on 10 March, he announced his departure from the APC, saying the party no longer aligned with his values. In that resignation letter, he accused the APC leadership of abandoning the progressive vision that initially shaped the party.
“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party,” he wrote, noting that repeated concerns he raised went unresolved.
In May, TheCable reported that opposition leaders reached an agreement to adopt the ADC as a unified platform to challenge the APC ahead of the 2027 general election.
Those involved in the coalition include Rotimi Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, John Oyegun, Uche Secondus, Sam Egwu, Aminu Tambuwal, and Liyel Imoke.