The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has rocked Nigeria’s political landscape with the dramatic expulsion and 30-year ban of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over what the party described as “a brazen, calculated attempt to hijack, destabilize and compromise the ideological purity of the SDP.”
The explosive development was confirmed in a strongly worded statement released on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, following an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Citing multiple breaches of the party’s constitution and the 2022 amended guidelines, the NWC said El-Rufai’s expulsion was a necessary response to his “gross indiscipline, false representation, fraudulent self-registration, and deliberate acts of sabotage aimed at destabilizing the party at all levels.”
Despite not being officially registered with the SDP in his ward, the former governor allegedly took to social media to announce his membership, prompting congratulatory messages from party chieftains and the issuance of a support letter at his request. The party, however, noted that upon further investigation, El-Rufai had neither joined nor followed any due process as stipulated by the party’s constitution.
“El-Rufai never registered with his ward in Unguwar Sarki, Kaduna North. Instead, he fabricated membership documents and arrogated to himself the title of ‘Member 001’ — a blatant lie and disrespect to the institution of our party,” the statement reads.
The NWC described El-Rufai as the architect of a coordinated plot to infiltrate and fracture the SDP from within. According to the statement, the former governor had been “illegitimately trading with the name of the SDP,” using it as political collateral while allegedly aligning with rival political parties and promoting a controversial “so-called coalition” built on deception.
“In his opaque dealings, El-Rufai sought to drag the SDP dishonestly into a coalition with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) — a platform he had already publicly declared allegiance to,” the party said.
“He used money, manipulation, and misinformation to fuel division, sponsor dissident factions, and orchestrate an illegal NEC meeting in a desperate attempt to seize the reins of the party through the back door.”
Citing Articles 19.1, 19.3(i), and 19.5 of its constitution, the NWC said it had no choice but to decisively sever all ties with El-Rufai. The party denounced his membership claims as fraudulent and announced his ban from any form of affiliation, activity, or engagement with the SDP — both within Nigeria and abroad — for the next 30 years.
“El-Rufai is henceforth disassociated, disclaimed, disfellowshipped, and excommunicated. He is prohibited from applying for membership, participating in party affairs, or identifying with our symbols, marks, organs, or agencies — now or until July 28, 2055,” the statement declared.
INEC and Public Warned
The SDP also issued a public advisory, warning its members and the general public not to engage with El-Rufai in any political capacity, reiterating that he is neither a member of the SDP nor authorized to act on its behalf. The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other political institutions to formally recognize his non-member status.
The statement did not shy away from revisiting El-Rufai’s tenure as Kaduna Governor, accusing him of intolerance and political persecution of opposition parties — especially the SDP. It painted a picture of a man whose sudden interest in the party is steeped in ulterior motives and opportunism, rather than patriotism or ideological alignment.
In closing, the NWC reaffirmed the SDP’s commitment to party discipline, ideological clarity, internal democracy, and principled opposition. The leadership insisted that no individual, no matter how powerful or prominent, would be allowed to undermine the unity and integrity of the party.
“This expulsion sends a strong message: the SDP is not for sale, not for hijack, and certainly not for manipulation,” the statement concluded.
With this political thunderbolt, the 2027 electoral terrain may be entering even more turbulent waters — as old alliances crumble and new power plays unfold.
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