Bello El-Rufai, the son of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, officially defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The announcement was made by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, during a plenary session characterized by a fresh wave of legislative realignments.
The “Kaduna North” Defection
Bello El-Rufai, who represents the Kaduna North Federal Constituency, cited “lingering internal crises” and “political uncertainty” within the APC as his primary reasons for leaving the ruling party.
- The Re-election Bid: In a statement following the announcement, Bello confirmed that he intends to seek re-election to the House of Representatives on the ADC platform.
- A Family Trend: His move follows that of his father, Nasir El-Rufai, who reportedly resigned from the APC in late 2025 to join the opposition coalition, eventually aligning with the ADC.
- The Kaduna Bloc: Bello didn’t move alone. Two other lawmakers from Kaduna State—Umar Ajilo (Makarfi/Kudan) and Suleiman Richifa (Zaria Federal Constituency)—also dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join him in the ADC today.
ADC: The New Power Center?
While the ADC recently lost 17 members to Peter Obi’s new NDC, the arrival of the El-Rufai “dynasty” suggests the party is becoming a strategic fortress for Northern political heavyweights who have fallen out with the APC leadership.
- Internal Realignment: The Speaker also announced that Joshua Obika (AMAC/Bwari) and Kamilu Ado (Kano) moved to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), highlighting a massive, multi-party reshuffle currently rocking the National Assembly.
