Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed speculations about his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that he has no intention of joining the party but may consider other options if the All Progressives Congress (APC) fails to address its internal issues.
Speaking on Arise TV on Monday, El-Rufai said his meetings with politicians from other parties have been misinterpreted, clarifying that his interactions do not indicate plans to leave the APC.
“It should be clear that the fact that I’m in the APC doesn’t mean that I cannot visit a friend of mine who is in the PDP or SDP. So anytime I visit anyone that is not in APC, they say, ‘Oh, he’s thinking of leaving the party.’ In fact, about two months ago, one character in Kaduna posted on his Facebook page that I’ve collected a PDP membership card in my ward. It was totally untrue.”
He also addressed rumors about his alleged move to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after visiting the party’s national headquarters.
“When I visited my brother and friend Shehu Gabam at the SDP headquarters, they said, ‘Oh, he has joined the SDP.’ Again, not true,” he said.
El-Rufai, however, did not rule out the possibility of leaving the APC if the party does not return to its founding principles.
He said, “I don’t know where I will end up if the APC doesn’t come back to where we started. But one thing I can tell you for sure is that PDP is not a party that I will go to, ever. I have thought about that. I’ve decided that long ago, and nothing has changed. In fact if anything PDP has gotten worse, rule out PDP.”
His comments come amid ongoing speculation about his political future and reports that he recently met with PDP leaders in Kaduna. The former governor confirmed the meeting but maintained that it was not politically motivated.
“I met with PDP leadership in Kaduna a couple of days ago. The state leadership of the party came to see me, and I will meet with them. You know, I’m a public figure in my state, and at my age, and based on the responsibilities I have held, I am a leader of some sort.”
“If people say they want to see me, I’m not going to say, ‘You are PDP, I won’t see you,’ or ‘You are SDP’, I will only meet with APC people.’ It is my duty to meet with everyone. It is my duty to guide and mentor young people across partisan divides. So, i meet with people but the moment i meet with everyone, everything is reduced to politics”
While reiterating his rejection of the PDP, he left room for possible realignment if the APC fails to address its internal challenges.
“But PDP, no. Other parties, possibly, if the APC doesn’t sort itself out.”
