Isaac Samuel
A faction of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has announced the expulsion of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, claiming he falsely paraded himself as a member of the party and engaged in activities aimed at destabilising its structure.
In a statement issued Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the faction said El-Rufai had not registered with his Unguwar Sarki Ward in Kaduna North Local Government Area, despite publicly declaring on social media that he had joined the SDP.
The faction accused El-Rufai of forging membership documents, declaring himself “number 001” in the ward’s register, fraternising with suspended National Chairman Shehu Musa Gabam for political optics, and leveraging the party’s name in coalition negotiations despite his open support for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
According to the statement, El-Rufai’s actions “fostered disunity, distrust, and intrigues within the party,” prompting the group to ratify earlier decisions by the Kaduna State chapter and his ward to denounce his purported membership.
The faction said the former governor is barred from identifying with or participating in the party’s affairs, using its logo or insignia, or donating to it for the next 30 years, until July 28, 2055.
The group called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the public to note El-Rufai’s “non-member status,” adding that it remains committed to discipline, internal democracy, and a people-centred agenda.
The statement reads in part: “In line with the Constitution of the SDP, the ideology, manifesto, principles and practices thereof, and in consonance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act pertaining to the exclusive right of a political party to determine its membership, the National Working Committee deliberated on the controversial membership status of Nasir Ahmad Elrufai from Kaduna State who has in recent months been parading himself as a member of the SDP despite the assertion of the Kaduna State Executives that he has not joined the SDP but has instead been promoting the activities of other political party in the State.
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“At the initial stage, this individual Nasir Ahmad Elrufai was given the benefit of the doubt given his status as an elderly person, a former Minister and State Governor who should know the implications of false representation and impersonation, especially given the fact that he published on his social media handles that he had joined the SDP which led to congratulatory messages from prominent leaders of our party and a letter of support at his request by the National Publicity Secretary.
“However upon thorough inquiry, it turned out that the Kaduna State SDP was right and this individual had not joined the SDP. The following facts emerged’ Nasir Ahmad Elrufai failed to register at his Ward as required by the law despite falsely publishing on social media that he had joined the SDP;
“Elrufai devoted so much time to putting up false representation of membership by seeking photo opportunities with the suspended National Chairman Shehu Musa Gabam and some leaders of the SDP who assumed that he had joined the SDP in Kaduna State;
“Elrufai was confronted by serious eligibility problems given an unpleasant history of intolerance and persecution of the SDP as an opposition party during his time as the Governor of Kaduna State under the APC;
The group alleged that El-Rufai dangled cash inducements, spread misinformation and disinformation, and sponsored dissidents to call an illegal National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for July 25, 2025.
“We hereby notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the public that Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is not a member of the SDP, and remains ineligible for membership or association with the party for three decades,” the statement read.
The faction insisted that the decision was taken under Articles 19.1, 19.3(i) and 19.5 of its amended 2022 constitution, stressing that it remains committed to discipline, internal democracy, and the abolition of corruption and poverty.
