El-Rufai's visit to Gowon, SDP leadership fuels defection rumors

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has paid a visit to ex-military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon amid rumors of a possible defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

El-Rufai, a close ally of President Tinubu met Gowon at his residence in Abuja on Tuesday, March 26.

This meeting comes days after the chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) met leaders of the opposition party, SDP. The meeting was his second with the SDP leadership.

Following the visits, there are speculations that the former governor is planning to dump the APC.

In the photos that have emerged, El-Rufai was seen at the residence of Senator Abubakar Gada, along with SDP chairman Shehu Musa Gabam and other party leaders.

Also reported to be present at the meeting were Senator Teslim Folarin, APC, gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State in the 2023 general elections, and Senator Nazif Suleiman, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Bauchi State, Daily Post reports.

The meeting at Gada’s home in Abuja on Sunday night came after El-Rufai hosted a Ramadan iftar at his Abuja residence.

Those at the Ramadan iftar include the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, Shehu Musa Gabam, and others.

El-Rufai also visited Gabam at the SDP secretariat.