Bello El-Rufai Defects from APC to ADC, Signals Fresh Political Realignment in Kaduna

Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, the member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency and son of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has formally resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, announced the defection at plenary on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

The lawmaker, who also chairs the House Committee on Banking Regulations, declared his intention to seek re-election under the ADC banner. He is joined by two other lawmakers: Hon. Engr. Suleiman Richifa from Soba and Hon. Umar Ajilo from Makarfi/Kudan, who also shifted to the party. In his resignation statement, Bello El-Rufai described the move as a deliberate step toward “progressive, people-focused service.”

This development comes amid growing political realignments across Nigeria as politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections. Bello El-Rufai, first elected in 2023 with a strong mandate of over 51,000 votes across Kaduna North’s 12 wards, had earlier dismissed speculation about leaving the APC, stating he would only do so on the instruction of his father, widely regarded as a political strategist with deep roots in Kaduna politics.

The El-Rufai political dynasty remains influential in the North-West. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai served as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023 under the APC, implementing ambitious reforms in education, urban planning, and governance that attracted both praise and criticism. His son’s entry into the National Assembly in 2023 marked a new generation of the family in federal politics. The ADC, once a relatively small party, has recently positioned itself as an alternative platform, holding a national convention earlier in 2026 and attracting defectors disillusioned with the ruling party’s internal dynamics.

Kaduna State has witnessed intense political contestation in recent years. The 2023 governorship election, won by Senator Uba Sani, also of the APC, followed a tense period under El-Rufai marked by security challenges, farmer-herder clashes, and economic reforms. Bello El-Rufai previously served in Uba Sani’s campaign structure before his election to the House. His defection highlights fractures within APC structures in the state and the North, where loyalty, performance, and strategic calculations often drive party switches.

The timing is significant. With barely a year to party primaries, lawmakers are assessing their chances of re-election amid economic hardships, persistent insecurity in parts of the North, and questions over governance at federal and state levels. The ADC appears to be emerging as one of the platforms for potential opposition coalitions or independent-minded politicians seeking fresh branding.

Bello El-Rufai’s statement emphasised continuity in service. He referenced a new Primary Health Care initiative launched last week, promising to equip centres with essential supplies, beginning with 1,000 syringes per facility and targeting Unguwar Sarki and Badarawa/Malali wards in the first phase. Such constituency projects remain critical in Nigeria’s politics, where direct intervention in healthcare, education, and infrastructure often defines representatives’ popularity.

This move adds to the growing list of defections reshaping the National Assembly and state political landscapes. While party hopping is common in Nigerian democracy, it often raises questions about ideological consistency versus personal and group political survival. For Kaduna North residents, the immediate implication is whether the change of platform will translate into more effective representation or simply reflect broader national realignments.

As the 2027 political season gathers momentum, Bello El-Rufai’s defection underscores the fluid nature of alliances in Nigeria’s multi-party system and the continuing influence of key political families in determining the direction of politics in key states like Kaduna.