Dr. Salihu Lukman, a former APC National Vice-Chairman (North West), has described the defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as premature.
Lukman made this statement while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday. El-Rufai had announced his departure from the ruling APC to the SDP on his verified Facebook page, citing various reasons for his decision.
Lukman, a political ally of El-Rufai and a former member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), expressed concern that the former governor’s defection could disrupt ongoing efforts to form a broader political coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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While acknowledging that El-Rufai’s defection had been expected, Lukman felt that the timing was too soon and that more patience was needed to allow the coalition talks to be finalized.
“It was expected. After his interview on national television, it was clear what was coming, but I didn’t anticipate it happening this quickly. I had hoped he would have been more patient so that we could work as a group based on the ongoing negotiations,” Lukman said.
Although he respected El-Rufai’s right to choose his political association, Lukman cautioned that the timing of the defection could have unintended consequences for the opposition’s realignment efforts.
When asked if he would join El-Rufai in the SDP, Lukman responded that he would only do so if the party met certain conditions. “At the moment, they haven’t met those conditions. We’re still in discussions, and if they meet the conditions tomorrow, then fine,” he explained.
Regarding the planned coalition, Lukman confirmed that negotiations were still in progress. “The discussion about whether SDP will be part of it or not has been ongoing. The challenge is whether SDP will accept the conditions we believe are necessary,” he said.
Lukman further explained that while most politicians seek a platform to gain political power, some, including himself, believe the issue goes beyond that. “What Nigerians need is a platform that promotes political competition. The problem Nigerians had with the PDP was the imposition of candidates,” he added.
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