Kaduna MP Bello El‑Rufai Defects from APC to ADC Amid Party Crisis

Bello El‑Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives and son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El‑Rufai, has left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The move was disclosed by House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen during Thursday’s plenary session.

According to Tajudeen, El‑Rufai’s switch to the ADC was accompanied by two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislators from Kaduna State – Umar Ajilo and Suleiman Richifa – who also defected to the ADC. The speaker further announced that Kano State legislator Kamilu Ado transferred from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), while Joshua Obika, representing the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory, moved from the APC to the NDC.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the members who changed parties cited internal crises and uncertainty within their former parties as the primary reasons for their defections.

These shifts underscore ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s political landscape, as elected officials seek platforms they perceive as more stable or better aligned with their political goals. The defections may affect party dynamics ahead of forthcoming electoral contests, prompting both the APC and opposition parties to reassess their internal cohesion and outreach strategies.