The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kaduna State has publicly disowned former governor Nasir El-Rufai, asserting that he is not a recognized member of the party. The statement comes after reports that El-Rufai, along with several members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had defected to the SDP, citing ideological differences with the ruling party.
El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, expressed his discontent with the party’s current leadership, accusing it of straying from the progressive ideals it was built upon. In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, he explained that his decision to leave the APC was based on a growing misalignment between his values and the direction the party had taken. “As a founding member of the APC, I have fond memories of working to create the party. Since 2013, I hoped my values would continue to align with the APC, but that is no longer the case,” El-Rufai said.
However, the SDP’s leadership in Kaduna quickly dismissed El-Rufai’s claims, stating that his membership in the party had not been formalized. At a press conference on Friday, the party’s Assistant National Secretary for the Northwest zone, Idris Inuwa, made it clear that no official records of El-Rufai’s membership exist at the local level, including within the Kaduna North Local Government or Unguwar Sarki ward.
Inuwa advised El-Rufai and any others seeking to join the SDP to follow the correct procedures to become official members. “We urge him and others to adhere to the party’s established processes for membership,” Inuwa stated.
Additionally, Inuwa rejected the claims that the Kaduna State Working Committee of the SDP had been dissolved, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of the party’s internal democracy. He reiterated that the State Executive Committee had been duly elected and held a legitimate four-year mandate, which remains valid.
“The SDP constitution is clear on how a State Executive Committee can be dissolved. It requires a transparent investigation, a committee setup, and a fair hearing. None of this was followed in the case of the alleged dissolution. The unilateral letter of dissolution is illegal,” Inuwa asserted.
In conclusion, Inuwa emphasized that the SDP remains open to new members who are willing to comply with the party’s guidelines and constitutional processes. “We welcome those interested in joining our ranks, as long as they follow the proper procedures,” he added.
As the drama unfolds, it’s clear that El-Rufai’s political future and his place in the SDP hang in the balance, with the party’s leadership making it clear that any official membership must go through the right channels.
