By Babatunji Wusu
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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, for 30 years due to false claims of membership and destabilizing activities.
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SDP found El-Rufai never properly registered as a member, but falsely presented himself as such, including forging membership documents.
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The party accused him of promoting other political parties’ interests, sponsoring illegal meetings, spreading misinformation, and undermining SDP’s unity.
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SDP barred El-Rufai from associating with or claiming membership in the party until July 28, 2055, warning members not to engage with him in any SDP-related matters.
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The expulsion aligns with the party’s constitution and Nigerian laws that grant parties exclusive rights to determine their membership.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) officially expelled former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai for 30 years, as announced by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, on July 28, 2025.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) stated the expulsion was in accordance with the SDP’s constitution, ideology, manifesto, and consistent with the Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Act, which give political parties exclusive rights to control their membership.
Despite claims by Kaduna State SDP Executives that El-Rufai had not joined the party, he falsely portrayed himself as a member. Initially, this led to congratulatory responses from SDP leaders based on his public declarations. However, a thorough inquiry revealed that he failed to formally register and instead forged documents, claiming to be “number 001” in a Kaduna ward membership register, contrary to official records.
SDP accused El-Rufai of engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing the party, such as promoting opposition parties, sponsoring illegal party meetings, spreading misinformation, and weakening party unity. His past tenure as governor under the APC was also cited as marked by alleged intolerance and persecution of SDP as an opposition party.
Consequently, the SDP disassociated from El-Rufai completely, banning him from claiming membership, associating with the party’s symbols and organs, participating in its affairs, or supporting it financially for three decades.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to discipline, patriotism, ideological clarity, integrity, principled opposition, and internal democracy, inviting Nigerians who share these values to join its ranks.
This decisive expulsion underscores SDP’s resolve to protect its integrity amid ongoing political turbulence in Kaduna State and Nigeria.
