A fresh crisis has erupted within Nigeria’s Social Democratic Party (SDP) as factions loyal to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai vehemently rejected his expulsion from the party, setting the stage for a bitter internal showdown.
The crisis began when the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced El-Rufai’s expulsion and a unprecedented 30-year ban, citing alleged violations of party rules.
This was contained in a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Araba Aiyenigba, where the party leadership made explosive claims about El-Rufai’s conduct.
“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 statement read.
The leadership accused the former governor of “unconstitutional schemes” and alleged he had been simultaneously promoting another political party while claiming SDP membership.
“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 statement continued.
However, within hours, the SDP’s Kaduna State chapter launched a counter statement, dismissing the expulsion as illegitimate.
In the statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary, Darius Kurah, the faction challenged both the substance and authority behind the disciplinary action.
“The individual in question, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, does not currently serve as the National Publicity Secretary of the SDP,” the counter statement declared.
It went further to note that: “The authentic and duly recognized National Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party is AMB. JUDITH SHU’AIBU.”
The Kaduna faction insisted El-Rufai had properly completed all membership requirements. “Mallam El-Rufai has formally declared membership of the SDP and completed the constitutional requirements, such as ward registration. Any suggestion otherwise is a fabrication aimed at dragging his name into political speculation,” they stated.
Despite these claims, El-Rufai has not provided details of his registration, the NWC has also provided detailed allegations about this omission, claiming the former governor resorted to improper methods.
“Rather than register lawfully with the Ward Executives, this individual simply forged his own documents and self registered,” the NWC alleged, adding that El-Rufai had “arrogated to himself ‘number 001 in the SDP membership register of Unguwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna North Local Government Area.”
The dispute has exposed deep fractures within the opposition party, coming just months after El-Rufai’s high profile defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the time, he cited “a growing misalignment between my personal values and the current direction of the APC” as his reason for leaving.
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