Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking another major shift in his political trajectory.
El-Rufai completed his registration and collected his membership card at the ADC office in Ungwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna State.
Following extensive high-level consultations, the coalition leadership decided to adopt the existing African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its official platform.
El-Rufai explained that the decision was made after the Social Democratic Party (SDP) “refused to open up to the coalition leadership” due to alleged government interference.
El-Rufai’s Role in ADC Adoption
An agreement with the ADC leadership was reached around July 2, 2025, for the coalition to use their party platform.
El-Rufai himself moved the motion to adopt the ADC as the coalition platform, a motion reportedly seconded by Peter Obi.
Despite the adoption of the party, a faction of ADC, led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who announced himself as the party’s chairman, had repeatedly dismissed the coalition and claimed the party was hijacked.
El-Rufai noted that their formal registration was delayed due to some pending local elections and by-elections, to allow members like Peter Obi and himself to campaign for their then-current parties in specific state elections without conflict.
Timeline of El-Rufai’s Recent Political Movements:
- Formation of APC (2013): El-Rufai was a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), instrumental in the merger that brought the party to power in 2015. He served two terms as the APC Governor of Kaduna State (2015-2023). El-Rufai argued that the party had strayed far from its original vision and showed little willingness to address what he called its “unhealthy” internal climate.
- Left APC (March 10, 2025): He officially resigned from the APC, citing a “widening disconnect” from the party’s founding principles and the current leadership’s disregard for democratic values.
- Joined SDP (March 10, 2025): On the same day he left the APC, El-Rufai announced he was joining the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intending it to be the foundation of a broad opposition coalition.
- SDP ‘Sack’/Expulsion (July/August 2025): The national body of the SDP disowned and “expelled” El-Rufai for 30 years over allegations of forgery and anti-party activities.
- The Kaduna State Chairman, Adamu Idris, and the State Publicity Secretary, Darius Kurah, countered the NWC’s claims, stating that El-Rufai had fulfilled all registration requirements and that the NWC’s decision was a “politically motivated attempt to cause confusion”.
- SDP Debunked Party Collapse (August 2025): The Kaduna State chapter of the SDP urged members to disregard claims by El-Rufai that the entire state structure had collapsed into the ADC, insisting the party remained intact. El-Rufai, in turn, accused some SDP leaders of being “bribed and compromised” by the government, which is why the coalition had to find a new platform.
- Joined ADC (November 27, 2025): El-Rufai formally resigned from the SDP (via letter dated November 26, 2025) and officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he has been issued membership number 000002. He registered at his U/Sarki Ward in Kaduna and vowed to use the ADC to challenge the ruling APC in the 2027 elections.
His move to the ADC is seen as the beginning of a new political chapter, boosting the party’s visibility in Kaduna State and beyond.
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In a separate resignation letter dated November 26, 2025, El-Rufai informed the SDP of his departure, stating that he intends to focus on helping to build a unified democratic platform capable of offering Nigerians a credible political alternative.
“I wish to notify you that I have resigned my membership of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, effective 26 November 2025,” he wrote.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
