El-Rufai’s defection won’t make any difference – Shehu Sani

Lawmaker who represented the Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, Senator Shehu Sani, has dismissed the political impact of former Kaduna state Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), saying the move is inconsequential for someone who no longer holds political relevance. 

Sani, a civil rights activist said El-Rufai’s exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not change anything. 

“Leaving APC for SDP won’t make any difference for someone with no political relevance again,” he said. 

He, however, maintained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani would secure re-election in 2027. 

A statement from Shehu Sani’s office linked El-Rufai’s defection to fears over recent political realignments in Kaduna, particularly the return of key figures like former Governor Ramalan Yero, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, and Senator Danjuma Laah to the APC. 

It stated that El-Rufai’s decision to leave the APC came barely 24 hours after Shehu Sani publicly declared support for Governor Uba Sani’s second-term bid. 

“The return of Shehu Sani and other prominent politicians to the APC has unsettled El-Rufai,” the statement added. 

It further noted that El-Rufai, unwilling to face the growing influence of these politicians within the APC, formally resigned from the party in a Facebook post on Monday. 

Meanwhile, in his resignation letter, El-Rufai said his decision was based on his dissatisfaction with the APC’s current direction. 

“Today, 10th March 2025, I have submitted a letter resigning my membership of the APC to my ward in Kaduna, effective immediately. Prior to this step, I had concluded consultations with my mentors, colleagues, and loyalists across the country about the future. I have now decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and adopt it as the platform for our future political engagements and activities,” he said. 

He added that he would work towards uniting opposition parties to challenge the APC in upcoming elections. 

“I therefore call on all our supporters and other persons concerned about our country’s future to join us in the SDP in the journey towards making Nigeria flourish as a beacon of pride for Africans and the Black Race,” he said.