‘We are assembling aggrieved Nigerians across parties into SDP to save Nigeria’ — El-Rufai

Ahead of 2027 general election, the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai said disaffected members from various political parties are being assembled into the Social Democratic Party, SDP to save the country from godfatherism politics.

El-Rufai who was a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC expressed his belief that the SDP platform has the pedigree to be used to offer a fresh opportunity, being a platform not controlled by any individual.

Speaking in Kano on Monday he told journalists that he paid a visit to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II and to reach out to likeminds to deepen the SDP in Kano. El-Rufai, disclosed that it was the politics of godfatherism that destroyed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and is currently wrecking the ruling APC.

“We have seen how godfatherism destroyed the PDP and is now wrecking the APC.

“Nigerians deserve a party built on fairness, internal democracy, and equal opportunity. The SDP can be that alternative,” he said.

Whether he was frustrated, the former governor declared he has no personal ambition left to pursue having reached the zenith of his political career, saying: “I am 65 years old. I have served Nigeria at the highest levels – minister, governor – and I could simply retire. But I believe Nigeria is facing an existential crisis”, adding that what he was doing was about the country’s survival.

On the contentious debate about rotational presidency, El-Rufai said while he previously advocated for a power shift to the South, Nigeria’s challenges now demand that competence and leadership capacity, not geography, should determine who leads.

“Our problems are too severe to care about where the next president comes from. We need someone with vision and the ability to fix Nigeria’s fundamental issues,” he said.

Speaking on the wave of political defections across the country, mostly to the ruling APC, El-Rufai said he was not concerned.

“A governor only has one vote. Elections are won by the people, not by politicians. Our focus is on mobilising ordinary Nigerians, not chasing high-profile defections,” he stated.

On perceptions that the SDP is a northern movement, El-Rufai said the movement is national and growing quietly across southern Nigeria.

“You are seeing northern energy because we’re currently in Kano. But I have been engaging leaders across Lagos, Anambra, and the South-South. Nation-building is grassroots work, not media shows. You’ll see the results when the time is right,” he noted.

He also confirmed ongoing coalition talks involving five major political groups aimed at forming a strong opposition movement under the SDP. “It’s a broader national movement for disillusioned Nigerians.