The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and barred him from associating with the party in any capacity for the next 30 years.
In a strongly worded statement issued Monday in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba, the SDP said the decision followed thorough investigations into El-Rufai’s controversial claim of membership, which the party described as fraudulent and disruptive.
The former governor was accused of impersonating a party member, forging documents, aligning with rival political interests, and attempting to sow division within the party through what the NWC termed “unconstitutional actions and deceptive political maneuvers.”
The statement reads in part, ”El-Rufai never registered with the SDP at his ward level as required by the party’s constitution, yet falsely declared on social media that he had joined the party.
“He further forged documents claiming membership and took photo opportunities with suspended party leaders to reinforce this falsehood.”
The party said it had initially given El-Rufai the benefit of the doubt, considering his status as a former minister and governor, but that investigations confirmed his non-membership and deliberate misrepresentation.
The statement further said : “In line with the Constitution of the SDP, the ideology, manifesto, principles and practices thereof, and in consonance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act pertaining to the exclusive right of a political party to determine its membership, the National Working Committee deliberated on the controversial membership status of Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai from Kaduna State who has in recent months been parading himself as a member of the SDP despite the assertion of the Kaduna State Executives that he has not joined the SDP but has instead been promoting the activities of other political party in the State.”
“At the initial stage, this individual Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai was given the benefit of the doubt given his status as an elderly person, a former Minister and State Governor who should know the implications of false representation and impersonation, especially given the fact that he published on his social media handles that he had joined the SDP which led to congratulatory messages from prominent leaders of our party and a letter of support at his request by the National Publicity Secretary.
“However upon thorough inquiry, it turned out that the Kaduna State SDP was right and this individual had not joined the SDP. The following facts emerged: Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai failed to register at his Ward as required by the law despite falsely publishing on social media that he had joined the SDP.”
The statement also alleged that El-Rufai exploited media optics to validate his claim by associating with suspended national figures within the party: “El-Rufai devoted so much time to putting up false representation of membership by seeking photo opportunities with the suspended National Chairman Shehu Musa Gabam and some leaders of the SDP who assumed that he had joined the SDP in Kaduna State; El-Rufai was confronted by serious eligibility problems given an unpleasant history of intolerance and persecution of the SDP as an opposition party during his time as the Governor of Kaduna State under the APC.”
The SDP also accused him of double dealings and political sabotage, stating that he was simultaneously promoting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) while trying to drag the SDP into a non-consensual alliance.
“Having confirmed that he publicly declared for the ADC and continued to act in a manner contrary to the principles and practices of the SDP, the party has no option but to disassociate and excommunicate him,” the party said.
“Consequently, El-Rufai has been banished and banned from applying to the membership, identifying with the name, insignia, logo, or participating in any affairs of the SDP for a period of 30 years, effective immediately.”
The party has also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant authorities to take note of El-Rufai’s non-member status and warned that he is not authorised to speak or act on behalf of the SDP.
Reaffirming its commitment to internal democracy and transparent leadership, the party warned against attempts to hijack its platform for ulterior political motives.
The statement added, “Apparently to run away from his past, El-Rufai proposed an elaborate welcome ceremony at the SDP National Secretariat in Abuja but was politely counseled that such a jamboree was not tenable and he should go home to register at his Ward in Kaduna State after passing simple eligibility interview and on boarding process.”
“Rather than register lawfully with the Ward Executives, this individual simply forged his own documents and self-registered and arrogated to himself ‘number 001 in the SDP membership register of Unguwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna North Local Government Area’, as if the Ward had no single member prior to his purported joining. This is contrary to all existing and updated records of the SDP in Kaduna State.”
It will be recalled that El-Rufai recently announced his departure from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing a “growing misalignment” between his personal values and the party’s current trajectory, and claimed to have joined the SDP. That claim, according to the SDP leadership, has now been thoroughly debunked.
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