El-Rufai’s son dumps APC for ADC as four Reps members defect

By Christiana Ekpa

Fresh cracks have emerged within Nigeria’s major political parties as four members of the House of Representatives formally announced their defections to new political platforms during Thursday’s plenary session.
Among the defectors is Rep. Bello El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, read the letters of defection on the floor of the Green Chamber at the resumption of plenary.
Also joining the ADC are two lawmakers from Kaduna State Reps. Umar Ajilo and Suleiman Yahaya Richifa who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing unresolved internal crises and uncertainty within the opposition party.
In a related development, Rep. Kamilu Ado from Kano State defected from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), while Rep. Joshua Obika, representing the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory, resigned from the APC and joined the NDC.
The lawmakers blamed persistent internal wranglings, leadership disputes, and uncertainty within their former parties for their decisions to switch allegiance.
Bello El-Rufai’s defection is expected to further fuel political conversations surrounding the growing rift between his father, Nasir El-Rufai, and the APC leadership.
The former Kaduna governor, once a key ally of President Bola Tinubu and one of the influential figures behind the APC’s 2023 presidential victory, has in recent months openly criticised the ruling party and accused its leadership of abandoning internal democracy and progressive ideals.
El-Rufai’s relationship with the APC leadership reportedly deteriorated after his ministerial nomination under President Tinubu’s administration failed to secure Senate confirmation a development widely believed to have deepened tensions between the former governor and key power blocs within the party.
Political observers say the latest wave of defections may signal wider realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.