The Presidency has responded to the defection of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing the move as driven by “inordinate ambition” rather than ideology or progressivism. El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, announced his defection on Monday amid speculation about his presidential ambitions.
In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Policy, Daniel Bwala, stated that the Presidency would interrogate El-Rufai’s motives in the coming days. He emphasized that El-Rufai’s association with “sore losers” to unseat the incumbent government does not align with progressive ideals.
“The MOTIVE is what we will interrogate in the coming days and remind Nigerians that you are not a phenomenon that emerged like a clap of thunder out of a blue sky,” Bwala wrote. “We will intellectually remind you that associating with sore losers to unseat the incumbent is not an IDEOLOGY, neither is it PROGRESSIVISM; it is simply an inordinate AMBITION that is destined to fail.”
Despite the strong criticism, Bwala clarified that he had nothing personal against El-Rufai, acknowledging that the former governor had merely exercised his “constitutional right” to switch parties.
El-Rufai’s defection has sparked widespread political discussions, with many speculating that the move is a strategic step toward contesting the 2027 presidential election. His departure from the APC, a party he helped establish, has also raised questions about internal divisions within the ruling party.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the Presidency’s reaction underscores the tension surrounding El-Rufai’s defection and its potential implications for Nigeria’s future elections.