Kaduna, Nigeria – The Kaduna State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has officially dismissed claims that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has joined its ranks, stating there is no evidence of his registration with the party at the state or ward level.
The clarification comes just days after El-Rufai publicly announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing a loss of confidence in the party’s leadership and values. He claimed that the APC had veered away from the progressive ideals upon which it was founded.
In his statement of defection, El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), accused the ruling party’s current leadership of suppressing internal democracy and sidelining loyal members. He said his decision to part ways with the APC was driven by a widening gap between his political philosophy and the party’s current trajectory.
He urged his supporters and political allies across Kaduna and beyond to follow him to the SDP, which he described as a better platform for rebuilding Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
SDP Responds: No Record of Membership
However, addressing a press conference on Friday, the SDP’s Assistant National Secretary for the Northwest Zone, Idris Inuwa, firmly refuted El-Rufai’s claim of defection. He clarified that the former governor has not followed any official registration process with the party.
“Neither the Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government Chapter nor the leadership of Unguwar Sarki ward has any record of his membership,” Inuwa said.
He added that while the SDP welcomes new members, including prominent political figures, proper registration protocols must be observed to maintain the integrity of the party’s processes.
In addition to addressing the controversy around El-Rufai’s purported membership, Inuwa also denounced the reported dissolution of the SDP’s Kaduna State Working Committee by the national secretariat. He described the action as unconstitutional and a blatant violation of party procedure.
“The Kaduna State Executive Committee remains the legitimate product of a democratically conducted State Congress,” Inuwa declared. “Its four-year mandate is valid and recognized by party law.”
He emphasized that any attempt to dismantle a duly constituted executive body without adherence to due process undermines internal democracy and party unity.
SDP Opens Doors—With Conditions
Despite the unfolding tensions, the Kaduna SDP reiterated its openness to welcoming new members. However, the party stressed that all interested individuals, regardless of status or political background, must comply with its constitutionally mandated registration procedures.
“Membership in the Social Democratic Party is not automatic. It must follow our clearly established constitutional framework,” Inuwa concluded.
The unfolding situation has sparked intrigue in Nigeria’s political circles, raising questions about El-Rufai’s next steps and the future dynamics between opposition parties in the buildup to the 2027 general elections.
