The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, with the opposition also rejecting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.
The SDP announced El-Rufai’s expulsion on Monday in a statement signed by Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the National Publicity Secretary.
Aiyenigba explained that the decision to axe El-Rufai was arrived at by members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the SDP.
He further stated that the party’s NWC ratified the denunciation of El-Rufai’s membership, which was earlier done by his Unguwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna North Local Government Area, and the Kaduna State Executive Committee in Kaduna State.
According to the statement, the party alleged that rather than register lawfully with the Ward Executives, El-Rufai simply forged his own documents, self-registered, and arrogated to himself “number 001 in the SDP membership register of Unguwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna North Local Government Area,” as if the Ward had no single member prior to his purported joining.
The SDP also distanced itself from any form of discussion with the ADC purportedly being undertaken by El-Rufai, saying it is in breach of the party’s constitution.
“The SDP at all levels disassociates, disclaims, disfellowships, excommunicates Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai as a member of the SDP; and to the extent that he purportedly claims membership by self-registration or any other means, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is consequently expelled from the membership of the Social Democratic Party anywhere in Nigeria and globally,” Aiyenigba said.
“The foregoing actions by the NWC, which are in the exercise of its exclusive powers as guaranteed in Article 19.1; 19.3(i) and 19.5 of the Party Constitution 2022 (as amended), are consequent upon the unacceptable acts of gross indiscipline of Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, particularly in respect of the undeniable fact of having publicly declared for the ADC, which is chosen as their so-called ‘coalition’ vehicle, and his confirmed acts towards dragging the SDP dishonestly into their so-called coalition through the back door; and his selfish agenda to destabilise the party (having failed in his mission) by way of sponsoring a group of dissidents to call an illegal National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Party on Friday, July 25, 2025, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is hereby banished and banned from applying to the membership, identifying with the name, insignia, logo, symbol, mark or any activities, organs, agencies, and institutions of the SDP, or donating to, supporting, contributing to, or participating in any affairs of the SDP for a period of 30 (thirty) years effective from today.
“Members of the SDP across Nigeria and the general public are by this public notice informed that Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is not a member of the SDP, and does not represent the interests of the party at any level, and for any purpose or to any intent.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant agencies and institutions are hereby notified of the non-member status and non-eligibility of Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for SDP membership effective until Wednesday, July 28, 2055.”
