The senator representing Nasarawa West senatorial district, Ahmed Wadada, has announced his plans to dump the Social Democratic Party, SDP, for the All Progressives Congress.

Mr Wadada disclosed this during an interview with newsmen in Keffi, Nasarawa State, on Saturday.

According to him, the recent defection of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is among the major reasons for his decision.

He said he can’t be in a party with Mr El-Rufai due to ideological and principle differences.

“Even though Malam El-Rufai is my elder brother, I don’t think I can stay with him in the SDP because he is not a principled politician,” Mr Wadada said.

He wondered why Mr El-Rufai dumped the APC and President Bola Tinubu after rigorously advocating for a power shift to the South.

He said Mr El-Rufai’s defection was driven by selfish interests, noting that he could not work with individuals who place personal ambition above collective interest.

“What changed in President Tinubu between the time El-Rufai supported him and now that he has defected to the SDP,” he questioned.

While drawing parallels between Mr El-Rufai and the former national chairman of APC, Abdulahi Adamu, the lawmaker said the latter has been a consistent and principled politician.

He recalled how Mr Adamu supported former Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the party’s presidential candidate.

He, however, said despite Mr Lawan’s defeat to Mr Tinubu, the former APC chairman did not dump the party.

Speaking on the state of the nation, Mr Wadada acknowledged the economic challenges facing the country due to the removal of fuel subsidy.

He, however, expressed optimism, noting that governments at all levels are making efforts to improve citizens’ welfare.

He emphasised that under the subsidy regime, only a few individuals benefitted.

“Now, following its removal, the funds are being allocated directly to state governments for development projects.

“In Nasarawa State, the impact of the oil subsidy funds is visible everywhere—even to the most gullible and the blind,” he asserted.