El-Rufai says Buhari approved his exit from APC before joining SDP

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, has revealed that his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) was made with the knowledge and approval of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

El-Rufai, who announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) via his verified Facebook page on Monday, disclosed this in an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday.

According to him, Buhari is one of the key figures he consults before making any major political move.

“There are certain people that before I do any major thing or make any decision, I consult, and anything they ask me not to do, I don’t do it. Former President Muhammadu Buhari is among them,” he stated.

“I consulted Buhari before leaving the APC. It was on a Friday when I went to meet him. I asked him to pray for me and give me his blessings, which he did.”

El-Rufai further recounted how, during his tenure as Kaduna governor, he sought Buhari’s input on key appointments, including commissioner nominees.

“Even when I was governor of Kaduna, before appointing my commissioners, I took the list to Buhari for review to check if any of them had insulted him before. He gave me the go-ahead after laughing and thanking me,” he said.