El-Rufai joins ADC, vows to unseat Kaduna gov

El-Rufai Joins ADC, Vows to Unseat Kaduna Governor

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring his intention to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and unseat the current Kaduna governor in the 2027 general elections.  

On Thursday, November 27, 2025, El-Rufai completed his registration at the ADC office in Unguwar Sarki, Kaduna North. He was warmly received by senior party officials, including the ADC Vice Chairman for the North-West, Jafaru Sani, and the National Membership Secretary, Senator Sadiq Yar’adua. In a symbolic gesture, El-Rufai was issued membership number 000002, underscoring his prominence within the party’s new coalition framework.  

Speaking after receiving his membership card, El-Rufai declared that the ADC would serve as his “political home” and the platform through which he intends to “rescue Kaduna State from incompetent leadership.” His words signaled a direct challenge to the APC, the party he once helped build and under which he served as governor from 2015 to 2023.  

El-Rufai’s defection comes after a turbulent period in his political career. Earlier in 2025, he briefly joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) but left after disagreements over coalition leadership, accusing the SDP of being compromised. 

El-Rufai had previously resigned from the APC in March 2025, citing the party’s abandonment of its founding principles and a widening gap between his values and the party’s direction.  

The ADC, now positioning itself as the main opposition platform ahead of 2027, has attracted several heavyweight politicians, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who are working to build a unified front against the APC. 

El-Rufai’s entry into the party strengthens this coalition and recalls his pivotal role in the formation of the APC before the 2015 elections, when opposition parties united to defeat the then-ruling PDP.  

In his remarks, El-Rufai expressed confidence that opposition parties under the ADC banner could replicate the success of 2015, when a coalition unseated the PDP. He emphasized that the 2027 elections would be a turning point for Kaduna and Nigeria, promising to mobilize grassroots support and restore what he described as “competent and principled leadership”.  

The move has already stirred political debate in Kaduna and beyond. Analysts note that El-Rufai’s reputation as a strategic political operator, combined with his strong network of former aides and local government chairmen who accompanied him during registration, could significantly reshape the state’s political landscape. His defection also highlights growing fractures within the APC, which faces mounting challenges in retaining dominance across Nigeria.  

This development sets the stage for a high-stakes contest in Kaduna, where El-Rufai’s influence remains strong despite controversies during his tenure. His vow to unseat the current governor signals not just a personal ambition but a broader opposition strategy aimed at reclaiming power in one of Nigeria’s most politically significant states.  

El-Rufai’s move to the ADC marks a major realignment in Nigerian politics, positioning him as a central figure in the opposition’s bid to challenge the APC in 2027. His declaration to unseat the Kaduna governor underscores both his personal political comeback and the ADC’s ambition to become the rallying point for Nigeria’s opposition forces.