Atiku, Peter Obi, Osinbajo, Other Ex-Buhari Officials Among Political Figures Planning To Join SDP After El-Rufai’s Defection –Sources
Sources revealed that other key opposition figures, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi, are also considering joining the SDP to form a united front against the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Many former officials from Muhammadu Buhari’s administration are reportedly planning to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following the recent defection of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, SaharaReporters has learned.
Sources revealed that other key opposition figures, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi, are also considering joining the SDP to form a united front against the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
In addition to El-Rufai, other prominent figures expected to join from the ruling party include former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice under the Buhari administration.
SaharaReporters has learned that Pastor Tunde Bakare, who contested and lost to President Bola Tinubu in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election, is among those planning to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
“Atiku, Peter Obi, Abubakar Malami, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo are all planning to join SDP in the coming days,” one of the sources disclosed. “Most of Buhari’s regime remnants are heading to SDP.”
El-Rufai officially resigned from the APC on Monday and announced his defection to the SDP. He has also instructed his political allies and supporters to follow him to the new party.
The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) cited a widening disconnect between his personal values and the APC’s current direction as the key reason for his departure.
On Monday, El-Rufai’s son, Bashir, suggested that Peter Obi would join the SDP, following his father’s defection from the ruling APC.
Bashir dropped the hint while responding to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by a user, @Freedom42602077, who argued that the SDP would struggle to defeat the APC in the 2027 elections unless it aligned with Peter Obi.
“Bro to bro, if Peter Obi is not in that party, they can’t win presidential. APC will have it again!” the user wrote.
Reacting, Bashir El-Rufai simply replied: “He is coming.
He is coming
— Bashir El-Rufai (@BashirElRufai) March 10, 2025
The cryptic response has since fuelled speculations about ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with many questioning whether Obi is indeed considering a move to the SDP.
El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, accused the party’s leadership of abandoning the progressive ideals that guided its formation in 2013. He claimed that the party had been taken over by individuals who disregarded internal democracy and treated members with contempt.
Despite repeatedly raising concerns about the party’s decline both privately and publicly, El-Rufai said his warnings were ignored.
“On my part, I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party. Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish,” he said.
El-Rufai, who served as governor of Kaduna from 2015 to 2023, said he had hoped that the APC would remain committed to the principles of good governance, democracy, and development.
However, he now believes the party has strayed and no longer represents the ideals of its founding fathers.
The former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recalled how he played a key role in securing electoral victories for the APC in 2015, 2019, and 2023, but expressed disappointment at how the party has been run in recent years.
“I, therefore, call on all our supporters and other persons concerned about our country’s future to join us in the SDP in the journey towards making Nigeria flourish as a beacon of pride for Africans and the Black Race,” he said.
Meanwhile, Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has described El-Rufai as an asset with a strong record of public service.
Speaking on The Morning Brief, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, on Tuesday, Adebayo acknowledged El-Rufai’s strengths but noted that he also has some weaknesses to address.
“The issue is that I see him as an asset, as a hard-working person and he has a verifiable and measurable track record of public performance. What I believe is that he has his weaknesses which he needs to work on but I am not his mentor or therapist,” he said.
An ad hoc committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly investigated El-Rufai’s administration from May 2015 to May 2023.
The committee’s report accused him and key members of his administration of corruption related to contract awards and mismanagement of loans. Specific allegations included unauthorised domestic and foreign loans, diversion of funds, and money laundering.
The committee recommended that El-Rufai and other officials be referred to anti-corruption agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned three former aides of El-Rufai—Lawal Adebisi (former Senior Special Adviser), Umar Waziri (former Accountant General of Kaduna State), and Yusuf Inuwa (former Finance Commissioner)—over alleged money laundering totaling N64.8 million.
The charges involved diverting public funds into a private company’s account, with Adebisi as the sole signatory. While El-Rufai was not directly charged, the involvement of his close aides during his administration has raised concerns about his oversight and possible indirect involvement.
