BY: Mustapha Lawal
Claim:
Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufai, has joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Verdict:
False. Nasiru El-Rufai has publicly debunked this claim as a hoax via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
Full Text
A message circulating widely on social media claims that Malam Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufai, the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State and a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The message suggests that El-Rufai received his PDP membership card at his polling unit in Sarki, Kaduna, and frames the alleged move as a major political shift in the state.
El-Rufai who supported President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections, was ruled out by the Senate during the ministerial screening, after being shortlisted for a ministerial role by Tinubu.
Given the significant political influence of El-Rufai in Kaduna State and beyond, the claim has garnered attention and raised questions about its authenticity. FactCheckAfrica investigates this claim.
Verification
FactCheckAfrica reviewed the claim and found that on January 5, 2025, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai took to his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle (@elrufai) to debunk the news. He described the claim as a “hoax” and advised the public to disregard the circulating rumours.
His post read: “Please disregard the patent lies and rumours about my political affiliation. I have referred the lead peddlers of the fake news for further action by my lawyers.”
Conclusion
FactCheckAfrica found no credible reports from mainstream media outlets or verified sources confirming El-Rufai’s alleged defection to the PDP. El-Rufai has been a staunch member of the APC and played a pivotal role in the party’s administration at both state and federal levels.
The claim that former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufai has defected to the PDP is false. El-Rufai has explicitly denied the allegation.
