The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and banned him from associating with the party in any form for the next 30 years, citing gross misconduct, falsified membership claims, and attempts to destabilize the party.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) accused El-Rufai of impersonation, document forgery, and engaging in backdoor political activities aimed at misleading party stakeholders and the public.
“El-Rufai never registered at his ward, yet falsely claimed SDP membership on social media,” said Aiyenigba. “He forged documents, took strategic photos with suspended leaders, and tried to pull the SDP into an unauthorized coalition with the ADC.”
According to the SDP, investigations revealed that El-Rufai unilaterally assigned himself membership number 001 in Unguwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna North LGA, without following due process. The party also cited a troubling history of political antagonism, including El-Rufai’s alleged persecution of the SDP during his tenure as Kaduna governor under the APC.
Despite public declarations of joining the SDP, the former minister was found to be simultaneously aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in what the NWC described as “a covert plot to hijack and destabilize the SDP through a so-called coalition.”
The party stressed that El-Rufai’s conduct amounted to gross indiscipline, misinformation, and manipulation, culminating in his sponsorship of a factional attempt to call an illegal National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
“El-Rufai is hereby excommunicated and barred from all party affairs, symbols, and associations for a period of 30 years, effective immediately,” the statement read.
The party called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant authorities to take note of El-Rufai’s non-member status, reiterating that he no longer represents or can speak on behalf of the SDP.
Reaffirming its dedication to internal democracy, ideological clarity, and principled opposition, the SDP urged all prospective members to follow due process and eschew deceit.
The decision, the NWC said, is in accordance with Articles 19.1, 19.3(i), and 19.5 of the SDP Constitution (2022, as amended).
“The SDP is a movement of integrity. We will not be derailed by individuals seeking personal gain at the cost of our party’s future and values,” the party concluded.
