El-Rufai: ‘I Will Never Join PDP,’ Dismisses Defection Rumors and Political Speculations
Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, has firmly rejected rumors suggesting that he is planning to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that he has no intention of joining the party.
In an interview on Arise TV on Monday evening, El-Rufai addressed the misconceptions surrounding his discussions with politicians from various parties. He clarified that these interactions were misinterpreted and emphasized that they did not imply his departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He explained, “Just because I am in the APC doesn’t mean I cannot visit friends in the PDP or SDP. Every time I meet someone from another party, people assume I am about to leave my party. Recently, a person in Kaduna even posted on Facebook claiming I had joined the PDP, which was entirely false.”
El-Rufai also recalled a visit to Shehu Gabam, a friend from the SDP, which led to rumors that he had joined that party as well. He dismissed these rumors as untrue.
While he ruled out the possibility of joining the PDP, El-Rufai did leave the door open for a potential change if the APC fails to return to its founding values. He stated, “If the APC does not revert to its core principles, I cannot predict where I might end up. But one thing is certain, I will never join the PDP. I have made that decision a long time ago, and nothing has changed. In fact, the PDP has become even worse over time.”
Though he rejected the idea of aligning with the PDP, El-Rufai hinted at the possibility of realigning with another party if the APC does not address its internal challenges. “No to the PDP, but perhaps other parties, depending on what happens with the APC,” he said.
El-Rufai also confirmed that he met with PDP leaders in Kaduna recently but reiterated that these meetings were not politically motivated. “The PDP leadership came to visit me, and I met with them. As a prominent figure in my state, I have a responsibility to meet with people from all political backgrounds,” he explained.
He reiterated that he would continue engaging with political leaders from across different parties, stressing that such meetings should not be interpreted as signs of defection. “If someone wants to meet with me, I won’t refuse just because they are from the PDP or SDP. It is my responsibility to engage with everyone, guide, and mentor young people from all sides of the political spectrum. But whenever I meet with anyone, people try to turn it into a political issue,” he added.
