Prominent figures within the All Progressives Congress (APC) from both the North and South are reportedly dissatisfied with President Bola Tinubu. There are strong indications that several former ministers from ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, alongside former governors and senators, are preparing to defect en masse to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Notably, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, defected to the SDP on Monday, citing a significant divergence between his values and the current trajectory of the APC as his primary motive.
El-Rufai, a vocal critic of Tinubu’s administration, revealed on Wednesday that he sought Buhari’s approval prior to leaving the APC, a move that has triggered a wave of defections among other northern APC members, particularly those affiliated with the Congress for Progress Change (CPC).
Following El-Rufai’s exit, Ahmad Kaita, a prominent APC figure and former House of Representatives member from Katsina, also joined the SDP.
Additionally, former Kaduna State commissioners for Agriculture, Ibrahim Hussaini; Justice, Aisha Dikko; Health, Amina Baloni; and Education, Halima Lawal, as well as former Head of Service, Hajiya Bari’atu Mohammed, have left the APC for the SDP.
Adamu Modibbo, the Campaign Secretary of the APC in Gombe State during the 2015 general elections, has also departed and is now the chairman of the state SDP.
A senator from the ninth Assembly, speaking anonymously to PUNCH, indicated that at least 10 former members of Buhari’s cabinet are expected to join the SDP.
According to the source, the defections are being led by key Buhari loyalists, including the former National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu; ex-Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; and former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.
The source stated, “They are awaiting the finalisation of the party structure in their respective states.”
In a similar vein, one of Malami’s closest aides has confirmed his involvement in the coalition efforts, stating anonymously, “This is not about ousting Tinubu in 2027, but our conviction that we can offer more credible and constitutional alternatives to governance in Nigeria, particularly in institutionalising a human-centred approach.
“We collectively oppose the current trend in which governance is commercialised at the expense of Nigerians and their welfare. This seems to be a coalition of tendencies spanning existing political parties, including high-profile politicians from the PDP, the defunct CPC, ACN, and APC, among others.
“Those involved include both current and former governors, senators, former ministers, and past and present party officials spanning various regions.”
Other Politicians Leaving
A reliable source has named former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo), Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) as key stakeholders in the coalition movement.
The ex-Senate President David Mark, former APC national chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former Minister of State for Education Emeka Nwajiuba, and senatorial representative Ali Ndume of Borno South are also implicated in the coalition.
In an interview, an APC chieftain from Imo State confirmed that the CPC faction within the party has concluded plans to join the coalition.
He reported that no fewer than 10 ministers and numerous senators from the ninth National Assembly are preparing to leave the APC.
He stated, “It is confirmed that some ministers who served under Buhari are leaving or will leave the APC. However, they may opt not to join the SDP, but they are part of the coalition movement.
“President Tinubu has mismanaged our party’s success, and it is disheartening to see the situation deteriorate daily. APC leaders from both the North and South are unhappy, yet the President remains indifferent. You cannot grow by diminishing in size. The APC is shrinking.
“The CPC faction of the party has also been leaving. You will recognise that the CPC is a significant bloc within the APC, and if it departs, I doubt the APC will remain intact.”
I laughed in eswatini when I heard whom they were trying to unseat. You guys are going to Fail woefully
I don’t how people whom could not win in their own local government can come together to challenge president bola Ahmed tinubu (the jagaban himself)