El-Rufai Drops Bombshell: Why I'll Never Join PDP, But May Dump APC If..."

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has shut down speculation about defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but left the door open for possible alignment with other political parties if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) fails to address its internal problems.

Speaking in an explosive interview on Arise TV on Monday, El-Rufai clarified that his recent interactions with politicians across party lines have been misinterpreted, dismissing claims that he has secretly obtained a PDP membership card.

El-Rufai made it clear that returning to the PDP is not an option, insisting that the party has become worse than ever. However, he strongly hinted that his political future remains uncertain if APC does not return to its founding principles.

"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 decided that long ago, and nothing has changed. If anything, PDP has gotten worse, so rule out PDP."

El-Rufai, a key architect of the APC's rise to power, expressed deep concerns over the party's current trajectory, hinting at possible disillusionment. He warned that if the APC fails to reform and restore its progressive ideals, many loyalists, including himself, may reconsider their loyalty.

"The APC was founded on strong principles, but if it strays too far from those principles, people will have to make difficult decisions. I hope the party finds its way back, but if it does not, anything is possible."

El-Rufai dismissed rumors that he has joined the PDP, stating that his meetings with opposition politicians were nothing more than friendly interactions. He particularly debunked viral social media claims that he had secretly registered as a PDP member in his ward.

"It should be clear that just because I am in APC doesn't mean I cannot visit a friend in the PDP or SDP. But whenever I do, people assume I am leaving the party. Two months ago, someone in Kaduna posted on Facebook that I had collected a PDP membership card in my ward. That is totally untrue."

The former Kaduna governor also addressed reports of his visit to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) headquarters, which sparked fresh speculations about a possible defection.

"When I visited my brother and friend, Shehu Gabam, at the SDP headquarters, they said, 'Oh, he has joined the SDP.' Again, not true."

El-Rufai further explained that as a political leader, meeting with politicians across different parties is inevitable, emphasizing that such engagements should not be mistaken for a move to defect.

"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. I am a public figure in my state, and at my age, based on the responsibilities I have held, I am a leader of some sort."

He criticized the tendency to reduce every meeting to political speculation, stating that his role as a mentor and adviser to young politicians requires him to be accessible to people from all parties.

"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, to guide and mentor young people across partisan divides. But the moment I meet with anyone, it turns into political speculation."

Despite reaffirming his commitment to the APC, El-Rufai's remarks have fueled speculation that he is keeping his options open. His criticism of APC's direction and refusal to rule out other political affiliations suggest that he could realign ahead of the 2027 elections if the ruling party does not address its internal challenges.

"PDP, no. Other parties, possibly, if the APC doesn't sort itself out," he said, leaving the door open for a political realignment.

As the APC navigates internal crises and opposition parties gear up for 2027, El-Rufai's political future remains a subject of intense debate. Will he remain in APC, join another party, or take a different political path altogether? Only time will tell.