A significant political shift occurred yesterday as dozens of former governorship candidates from the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) officially resigned from their party and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This mass defection follows a notable surge in SDP membership, attributed to the recent move of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP.
Mallam Hayatuddeen Lawal Makarfi, chairman of the PRP gubernatorial candidates’ forum, characterized their transition as a pivotal moment in their effort to “rescue Nigeria from its killers.” He expressed admiration for El-Rufai’s leadership, citing his “visionary and unwavering” qualities and his refusal to compromise standards. Makarfi, who was the PRP’s governorship candidate for Kaduna state in the last election, emphasized that their move was not a mere defection but a “strategic realignment of progressive forces.” He lamented the country’s current state, describing it as “bleeding” due to poverty and institutional collapse, and criticized the APC and PDP for turning governance into “a cabal of shared incompetence.”
Makarfi asserted that the 2027 elections should be a battle between Nigeria and failure, rather than a contest between the APC and PDP, and positioned the SDP as the last hope for the common citizen. Responding to the new members, SDP National Chairman, Malam Shehu Musa Gabam, assured them of equal treatment and a level playing field within the party. He reiterated the SDP’s commitment to improving Nigeria, stressing the importance of responsible governance and advising the current administration to “do the right thing.” Gabam emphasized that elected officials have a duty to serve all Nigerians, not just their party members.
