El-Rufai Joins SDP: A Valuable Asset with Flaws to Address – Adebayo

Nasir El-Rufai’s defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has sparked discussions in Nigeria’s political landscape. Adewole Adebayo, SDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, has described the former Kaduna State governor as a great asset but acknowledged that he has weaknesses to refine.
Speaking on national television, Adebayo praised El-Rufai’s intellect and track record in governance.
“I see him as a hardworking asset with measurable achievements in public service. However, like everyone, he has his flaws, which he needs to work on,” Adebayo said.
While not positioning himself as El-Rufai’s mentor or guide, Adebayo noted that Nigerians would assess the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) based on his past statements and actions.
On March 10, 2025, El-Rufai confirmed his exit from the APC, a party he helped establish in 2013, citing a departure from its founding principles. The former governor played a key role in supporting Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023 but later distanced himself from the ruling party.
Adebayo revealed that welcoming El-Rufai into the SDP required several discussions and ideological debates. While acknowledging the former governor’s competence, he emphasized that the SDP would not adopt all of El-Rufai’s past political approaches.
“El-Rufai did not just stumble into our party. We had serious discussions, and even now, there are policies he’s accustomed to that SDP won’t accept. He has an analytical mind and is willing to test new ideas, which is why we believe we can work with him to achieve meaningful results for Nigeria,” Adebayo stated.
Adebayo strongly criticized the APC, calling it a coalition of individuals more focused on power than actual governance.
“I have always seen the APC as a group of people who excel at political maneuvering but lack true governance vision. When El-Rufai joined them, I felt it was a loss to intellectual discourse in Nigeria. His eventual fallout with them was no surprise,” he said.
El-Rufai, a key advocate for a southern presidency in 2023, was instrumental in ensuring Tinubu clinched the APC ticket. However, after Tinubu’s election, their relationship soured. Despite being nominated as a minister, El-Rufai was rejected by the Senate due to security concerns raised by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Since his rejection, El-Rufai has been absent from APC activities and has had no visible ties to the presidency. His strained relationship with Kaduna’s current governor, Sani Uba, has also led to allegations of corruption against him, which he has denied.
While Adebayo welcomes El-Rufai’s expertise, he made it clear that the former governor’s ideas will be scrutinized within the SDP. He also hinted that ideological disagreements between them may arise in the future.
“El-Rufai may not fit into every role within the SDP, but his skills and experience can be valuable. Nigerians need an alternative to APC in 2027, and we are building a strong platform to challenge them,” Adebayo asserted.
With the 2027 elections on the horizon, El-Rufai’s move to SDP signals a significant shift in Nigeria’s political calculations, and all eyes will be on his next steps within the opposition party.