Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has officially joined the African Democratic Congress, months after leaving the All Progressives Congress. El-Rufai registered with the ADC and collected his membership card at the party office in Unguwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna State, accompanied by loyal supporters, including former appointees and local government chairmen.
The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory stated that he would leverage the ADC platform to confront what he described as incompetent leadership in the state. He made this statement while speaking to supporters and party officials, including ADC Vice Chairman for the North West, Hon. Jafaru Sani, and National Membership Secretary, Senator Sadiq Yar’adua.
El-Rufai expressed gratitude to the organizers for arranging the event on short notice and vowed to challenge the APC leadership in Kaduna State, citing past successes and the need for accountability. He called on all citizens of Kaduna State aged 18 and above to register with the African Democratic Congress, aiming to repeat the 2015 feat of removing the incumbent administration.
The former governor accused the current APC-led government in Kaduna of failing to deliver on its promises and acting with impunity. He claimed that his team had contributed to bringing the APC into office and therefore had a duty to contribute to sending them back home before they faced consequences.
El-Rufai’s registration with the ADC carried symbolic significance, as he received membership number 000002, following the coalition Vice National Chairman North West, who was assigned 000001 as the first registrant in the state. This development comes after El-Rufai’s defection from the APC on March 10, citing a widening disconnect between his personal values and the party’s current direction.
In his resignation letter, El-Rufai criticized the APC’s leadership, accusing the party of abandoning its progressive ideals. He had repeatedly raised concerns about the party’s trajectory over the past two years, but his warnings were ignored by the APC leadership. As a key figure in the 2013 merger of opposition parties that formed the APC, El-Rufai lamented that the party had lost its original vision.
The move is seen as a significant development in Kaduna State’s political landscape, with El-Rufai’s influence and experience expected to impact the ADC’s fortunes in upcoming elections. As the ADC gears up for future contests, El-Rufai’s leadership and commitment to the party are likely to be closely watched by political observers and analysts.