Buhari Supported My Defection to SDP, Says El-Rufai

• El-Rufai revealed that he had consulted with Buhari on his decision to leave the APC
• El-Rufai stated that he does not regret supporting President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election but was surprised and disappointed by Tinubu’s actions after assuming office.
• I defected from the APC to the SDP to the ruling party’s deviation from its original principles.

In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai disclosed that he had sought the consent of former President Muhammadu Buhari prior to his departure from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), citing issues within the ruling party, Eko Hot Blog reports.

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El-Rufai revealed that he had consulted with Buhari on his decision to leave the APC, stating, “I left the APC with his full knowledge.

I visited him on a Friday and informed him of my decision to leave the party, because I involve and consult with him on all my matters.”

He said, “I left the APC with his full knowledge. I visited him on a Friday and informed him of my decision to leave the party, because I involve and consult with him on all my matters.”

Asked if he had any political godfather, El-Rufai said, “I have those I consult with in everything I do.

I inform them of anything I intend to do, and when they demand that I keep off, I do. My first godfather is Muhammadu Buhari. For the rest, I will not mention them because if I do, they’ll be pressured.”

In the same interview, El-Rufai stated that he does not regret supporting President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election but was surprised and disappointed by Tinubu’s actions after assuming office.

He said, “I haven’t regretted it, but I have been taken by surprise. But why I don’t regret supporting him is, some Yoruba leaders from the South West had visited Kaduna and informed me that the Muslims of their region were being politically marginalised. That was the first reason I supported Tinubu.

“The second reason is this: we agreed that the 2023 presidential seat would be zoned to the Southern part of the Nigeria for fairness, balance and justice in the country.”

He attributed his defection from the APC to the SDP to the ruling party’s deviation from its original principles.

“The APC abandoned the ideals that led to its formation. It has abandoned the people. Everyone is now pursuing personal interests and wealth. The government has become a business enterprise where everything has a price.

“There is no justice. Those who worked for the party are not recognised, let alone rewarded. Appointments are now controlled by a select group from Lagos. The party is dead.

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“That is why I consult Tunde Bakare, Buhari, Abdullahi Adamu, Adams Oshiomhole, and Bisi Akande before making my decision,” he said.

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