Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai’s surprise defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has sparked a fierce backlash from within, as a coalition of youth members strongly opposes his move.
Led by Comrade Abdulsamad Bello, the SDP Youths and Supporters Coalition outrightly rejected El-Rufai’s entry, branding him “unfit and morally unqualified” for the party due to what they describe as his history of authoritarianism and anti-democratic tendencies.
“We reject El-Rufai’s entrance into our party in its entirety,” Bello declared in a fiery statement on Friday. “He is not here as a reformer, but as an undertaker—seeking to bury the SDP before it has a chance to grow.”
The coalition accused the party’s leadership of a secretive backroom deal that facilitated El-Rufai’s defection, warning that his presence could destabilize the party.
Power Grab Already in Motion?
Tensions have already flared. Just days after joining the SDP, El-Rufai’s supporters staged a protest at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, demanding the resignation of National Secretary Olu Agunloye—a move the youth coalition sees as a clear power grab attempt.
“El-Rufai has never believed in democracy. His tenure was marked by impunity, suppression of opposition voices, and disregard for inclusivity,” Bello added. “Now, barely days in, he’s already pushing for a leadership change. This is his pattern—control or destroy.”
The group also dismissed El-Rufai’s defection as a desperate political rebrand after his fallout with President Bola Tinubu and the APC, accusing him of using the SDP as a personal platform.
“The same man who once insulted opposition leaders and dismissed them as irrelevant is now seeking refuge in their midst. His hypocrisy knows no bounds,” Bello said.
With El-Rufai’s arrival already causing internal divisions, will the SDP survive his presence, or is this the beginning of a full-blown takeover?
