By Felix Durumbah, Abuja, and Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A blow may have come for former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, as his new political port, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), today, March 28, declared that he is not their member.
His state’s chapter of the party disowned the former governor, saying he is not a recognized member of the party.
SDP’s Assistant National Secretary, North-West Zone, Idris Inuwa, announced the position of things at a press conference in Kaduna, the Kaduna State capital.
On March 10, 2025, in a widely publicized defection, El-Rufai announced his exit from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing what he described as the veering off of President Bola Tinubu and the party’s national leadership from the core objectives of the party, which has been governing Nigeria since May 29, 2015.
El-Rufai accused the Tinubu-led Federal Government (FG) of several acts of corruption, ethnic bigotry and incompetence.
He quickly revealed SDP as his new political wharf.
But, El-Rufai did not stop there.
He rallied the nation’s opposition political heavyweights such as the 2023 election presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party (LP) presidential flagbearer in the 2023 poll, Mr Peter Obi; that of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and others to join him to oust Tinubu and APC in 2027, the year of Nigeria’s next general elections.
Since then, many politicians have jumped ship into the SDP, making an otherwise previously little known political party into an emerging titan.
Abubakar, more simply known as Atiku, even confirmed recently that a massive opposition coalition was in the works, to remove Tinubu from power in 2027.
However, the carpet appears to have been swept from under El-Rufai’s feet as his new party said it does not know him as a member.
According to Inuwa, El-Rufai’s entry into the party remained in the realm of rumour because the former governor did not follow due process.
He declared: “It has come to our notice that certain individuals, including Malam Nasir El-Rufai, are being rumored to have joined the SDP.
“However, neither the Chairman of the Kaduna North Local Government chapter in Kaduna State, nor the leadership of Unguwar Sarki Ward, has any record of these memberships.”
Inuwa advised El-Rufai and others to comply with proper procedures, if they wished to officially become members of the party.
“We advise him and any other interested individuals to follow the proper procedures, if they wish to officially become members of the party,” he said.
Inuwa also rejected the purported dissolution of the Kaduna State Working Committee (SWC) of the SDP, stating that the action was unconstitutional and an affront to the principles of due process and internal democracy.
It was yet unknown if this apparent nascent crisis was related in any way to El-Rufai’s entry into the party.
“The Kaduna State Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) categorically rejects the purported dissolution of the State Working Committee as contained in a letter from the National Secretariat dated 25 February, 2025,” Inuwa said.
The party’s Assistant National Secretary emphasized that the Kaduna State Executive Committee is a product of a duly conducted State Congress and holds a four-year mandate that remains valid and binding.
He added that the SDP constitution clearly outlines the process and procedure for dissolving a State Executive Committee, which includes initiating an investigation, setting up a committee, and providing fair hearing in a transparent manner.
“The Kaduna State Executive Committee is the legitimate outcome of a duly conducted State Congress, reflecting the will of the party members and adhering strictly to the party’s constitutional provisions. This body holds a four-year mandate that remains valid, binding, and legally recognized throughout its tenure.
“The SDP constitution states very clearly the process and procedure to follow in dissolving a State Exco; which includes, but limited to, initiating an investigation, setting up committee, providing fair hearing in a transparent manner, before a decision is taken; none of this was done -only the resort to the illegal unilateral letter of dissolution,” Inuwa said.
He emphasized that the Kaduna State SDP remained open and welcoming to all prospective members who adhere to established procedures.
“While we recognize the growing interest of individuals and groups in joining the SDP, we emphasize that there are well-defined guidelines and constitutional provisions governing membership admission. The State Executive Council (Exco) remains open and welcoming to all prospective members who adhere to these established procedures,” he added.
El-Rufai was yet to react to the latest developments as of press time.
