10 ex-Buhari’s ministers to dump APC for SDP

There are strong indications that several former ministers who served under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari are set to defect en masse to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

A senator from the ninth National Assembly, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that at least 10 former members of Buhari’s cabinet are preparing to join the SDP.

“What they’re waiting for is the finalisation of the party structure in their respective states,” the source said.

Investigations reveal that key figures who are also planning to defect include former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu; ex-Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; and former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, a prominent ally of Buhari, made the first move by officially joining the SDP on Monday. Citing concerns about the APC’s trajectory, he stated: “Developments in the last two years confirm that those who currently control and run the APC do not desire to acknowledge, much less address, the party’s unhealthy situation.

“I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the party’s capricious trajectory. Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform to pursue the progressive values I cherish,” he said.

El-Rufai, a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, also revealed that he consulted Buhari before making his decision to leave the ruling party.

READ ALSO:

• FG refutes US Congress claim of terrorists targeting Nigeria’s Christians
• Jimoh Ibrahim speaks on Senator Natasha’s petition to IPU
• SDP warns Kaduna gov against persecuting El-Rufai

“I left the APC with his (Buhari’s) 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 told BBC Hausa.

CPC Bloc Distances Itself from APC
El-Rufai’s defection appears to have triggered a larger exodus, particularly among members of the former Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a party founded by Buhari before it merged with others to form the APC in 2013.

Following his move, former senator Ahmad Kaita and a member of the House of Representatives from Katsina also joined the SDP. Other notable figures who have followed suit include former Kaduna State commissioners for Agriculture, Justice, Health, and Education, as well as the state’s former Head of Service.

Additionally, Adamu Modibbo, the former APC Campaign Secretary in Gombe State during the 2015 general elections, has switched to the SDP, now serving as its chairman in the state.

Former APC Publicity Secretary in Borno State, Abdulaziz Galadima, also confirmed his departure, stating:

“The party has deviated from the principles and ideology on which it was founded. Many original CPC members will leave the APC for the SDP or another party.”

Coalition Talks Gain Momentum
Sources suggest that the movement extends beyond former CPC members, with prominent politicians from the PDP, ACN, and APC reportedly engaged in coalition talks.

READ ALSO:

• Natasha: Protesters at UN House demands evidence of allegation
• Plot to impeach Fubara thickens
• Shell wraps up Nigeria onshore business sale, to focus on deepwater

A close aide of Malami, speaking anonymously, hinted at broader political objectives, saying:
“It is not about ousting Tinubu in 2027 but about our conviction that we have better and more credible constitutional alternatives to offer Nigerians in governance.”

Among those reportedly involved in the coalition discussions are former governors Rotimi Amaechi, Emeka Ihedioha, Liyel Imoke, Aminu Tambuwal, and Rauf Aregbesola, along with ex-Senate President David Mark and former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun.

Growing Discontent Within APC
A senior APC chieftain in Imo State confirmed that discontent among CPC-aligned politicians is driving the movement.

“That some ministers who served under Buhari are leaving or will leave the APC is confirmed. However, they may not join the SDP, but I know they are part of the coalition movement,” he said.

He further added: “President Tinubu has mismanaged the success of our party. APC bigwigs, both in the North and South, are not happy, and the President doesn’t care. You don’t grow by reducing in size. The APC is reducing in size.”

Former Minister of Sports and Youth Development Solomon Lalong also acknowledged ongoing political discussions involving former ministers and senators.
“We are in discussions with many people across the country, including former ministers and senators. But because it is at the level of discussion, I will have to protect their identities,” he said.

Lalong attributed the dissatisfaction to Tinubu’s leadership style, warning:

“This problem Tinubu found himself in is self-inflicted. It is caused by his ego. He is an egoistic personality who sees himself as an emperor.”

Aregbesola’s Political Future

While Rauf Aregbesola’s camp has remained tight-lipped, sources indicate that the former Minister of Interior has been approached to join the SDP.
A close associate revealed: “I can’t confirm whether it is the SDP we are joining, but I know there is an ongoing political movement. Some ministers and former APC officials are involved.”

The insider suggested that this movement could eventually lead to a broader coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

10 ex-Buhari’s ministers to dump APC for SDP

(PUNCH)

SDP warns Kaduna gov against persecuting El-Rufai

In a sudden turn of fortune, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is blowing hot, warning the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, against persecuting its members, including the former governor of the state, Nasir el-Rufai.

This is a dramatic shift from years of existence as one of the ‘mushroom’ political parties in the country. The positive turn of events follows defectors the party is receiving, including el-Rufai and his appointees.

The party is also taking part in serious coalition talks with the big two in the opposition—the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party.

Following its renewed popularity, the party on Friday issued a strongly worded statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ambassador Rufus Aiyenigba, against the mistreatment of its members, accusing Uba Sani of hounding them for defecting from the governor’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The statement, which is widely being shared by Sani’s predecessor, Nasir el-Rufai, who referred to the SDP as “our party,” said it wishes to bring to the attention of all Nigerians that the party has been informed about plans to suppress opposition figures to instil fear in political circles.

READ ALSO:

• Natasha: Protesters at UN House demands evidence of allegation
• Plot to impeach Fubara thickens
• Shell wraps up Nigeria onshore business sale, to focus on deepwater

The party says this strategy aims to deter further defections to “our party by using intimidation tactics.”

It comes as el-Rufai defected last Monday to the SDP from the APC, laying the groundwork for his commissioners and other top appointees to leave the APC to the SDP. Some of those who have defected have allegedly been arrested, according to el-Rufai.

However, the SDP said it has received reliable information indicating that the APC is “concerned about the mounting momentum of our party. In response, the APC has decided to leverage its governmental control to fabricate criminal charges against our members.”

The party notes that “our sources reveal that the persecution will commence with one of our prominent leaders, Malam Nasir El-Rufai. The government is planning to file multiple charges against him in Abuja and Kaduna imminently.

“In preparation for this, we have also learnt that the Federal Government has instructed its agencies to prevent Malam Nasir El-Rufai from leaving the country,” the party alleges.

It says in Kaduna, the state government appears to be following the federal strategy of targeting opposition leaders.

The administration under Uba Sani, the party says, has reportedly “abducted one of our state leaders, Ja’afaru Sani, utilising the police unit Operation Fushin Kada.

“This unit, which is supposed to protect citizens and their freedoms, has been misused to oppress political opponents.

READ ALSO:

• BREAKING: Appeal Court stops Sanusi’s reinstatement as Kano emir
• Nigeria dominating Africa spare parts market, says ASPAMDA boss
• Fernandes nets hat-trick in Man United big win over Real Sociedad

“Ja’afaru Sani has been taken before a magistrate, where the state government went to procure an order to remand him in prison,” the party says in the statement.

It emphasises that “as was done to Bashir Saidu on December 31, 2024, Ja’afaru Sani was remanded by the magistrate for alleged money laundering.

“This is a matter that is not within the jurisdiction of either a state court or the Nigeria Police. When the gimmick was rolled out in December 2024, it unfolded with a Kaduna magistrate remanding Bashir Saidu in prison till 21 January 2025 on similar charges.

“It was the precursor to Bashir Saidu spending 50 days in prison. Such is the naked attempt to deploy the police and the judiciary to detain and imprison our leaders in Kaduna.”

The SDP says it is profoundly dismayed by these flagrant and undemocratic methods in a democracy that should be advancing after 25 years of sustained efforts.

Democratic norms, it argues, dictate that a sitting government should respond to the growing momentum of opposition through a contest of ideas and improved performance, not through cowardly persecution that is characteristic of tyrannical regimes.

The party says it is imperative to note that the APC occupies office today because its leaders were not targeted during their years in opposition.

It stresses that if former governments had resorted to imprisoning them and burdening them with multiple charges across various courts, the APC would not be in its current position.

The SDP therefore calls on all Nigerians to stand against these undemocratic practices and advocate for a mature democratic process where political disagreements are resolved through dialogue and performance, not through oppression and intimidation.

It emphasises that even in the USA, an advanced democratic nation, “President Donald Trump was severally and severely persecuted and vilified by the political establishment, but all that did not diminish him nor detract from his popularity. He weathered the storm and got re-elected to power.

“The ongoing victimisation of the SDP and its members by the authorities amounts to nothing more than enhancing and boosting the public rating of the party as the bastion of true hope for national retrieval and better lives for Nigerians, going forward,” the party concludes.

SDP warns Kaduna gov against persecuting El-Rufai

2027: Southern Kaduna group rejects El-Rufai, supports Tinubu

The Southern Kaduna Support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured the president of block votes in future elections, citing his administration’s support for the region.

The group’s pledge comes in response to the defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and his reported efforts to form a coalition against the current administration.

In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Dr. Joseph G. Ibrahim, and Director of Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Bobai Mathew, the group said President Tinubu’s emergence has changed the fortunes of Southern Kaduna.

“With President Tinubu’s leadership and the collaborative efforts of Governor Uba Sani, we have witnessed transformational policies that have given us renewed hope for a more secure and prosperous future,” the statement read.

The group stated that Tinubu’s appointment of General Christopher Gwabin Musa as the Chief of Defence Staff was a demonstration of trust in the people of Southern Kaduna.

“This appointment is a testament to our region’s contributions to nation-building and a strategic move toward ensuring security and stability,” it noted.

READ ALSO:

• Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case
• Fubara writes fresh letter to Rivers Assembly for 2025 budget presentation
• Jobs: FG begins six-month free IT training for two million youths

Among the key infrastructural and security interventions credited to the Tinubu administration was the approval and construction of a military barracks in Samaru Kataf, which the group described as a “game-changer.”

“For years, Southern Kaduna was plagued by insecurity, making life unbearable for farmers, traders, and families. This permanent security presence will deter attacks, enhance safety, and restore confidence among our people,” it stated.

In the healthcare sector, the group lauded President Tinubu for approving the establishment of a Federal Medical Center in Kafanchan, describing it as a major milestone that would improve healthcare services, reduce maternal and infant mortality, and enhance the well-being of residents.

Education was also a focal point of the group’s commendation, as it celebrated the approval of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia.

“For decades, Southern Kaduna was marginalized in education development. This institution will provide quality education, skill development, and create employment opportunities for our youth,” the group stated.

The group further credited President Tinubu’s leadership for improving security, allowing farmers to return to their lands, and fostering an economic revival in the region.

“The proactive security strategies by the Nigerian Armed Forces, led by General CG Musa, have ensured that farmers and business owners can operate without fear.

“With improved security and infrastructure, Southern Kaduna is experiencing a business revival. Traders, entrepreneurs, and investors now have the confidence to expand their businesses, leading to job creation and economic prosperity,” it added.

Expressing confidence in the government, the group reaffirmed its commitment to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that supporting the party at both state and federal levels was a demonstration of unity, patriotism, and commitment to national progress.

The group also praised Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for his dedication to the development of Southern Kaduna, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and security.

“His collaboration with General CG Musa has yielded significant gains. We will continue to stand by him to ensure that he completes his good works for the state,” the group assured.

2027: Southern Kaduna group rejects El-Rufai, supports Tinubu