The National Working Committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, from the party and imposed a 30-year ban on his association with it in any capacity.
This was made known in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba.
According to the statement, the decision followed what the party described as a thorough investigation into El-Rufai’s false claims of membership, forged documents, and deceptive political activities intended to destabilise the SDP.
The party said El-Rufai never registered at his ward level in Kaduna as required by the SDP constitution, yet went ahead to falsely declare on social media that he had joined the party.
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He was also accused of forging membership documents and posing for photographs with suspended party officials in a bid to legitimise his claims.
Initially, the SDP said it gave El-Rufai the benefit of the doubt, considering his previous status as a minister and governor. However, further investigation confirmed that the Kaduna State chapter was right in asserting that he never joined the party.
The party added that he attempted to manipulate the system by claiming he was “number 001” in the membership register of Unguwar Sarki Ward in Kaduna North Local Government, a move the party described as fraudulent since the ward already had existing members.
In addition to the allegations of forgery and false representation, the SDP accused El-Rufai of aligning with another political party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while simultaneously trying to involve the SDP in an unapproved political coalition.
The party stated that this dual alignment, coupled with his past record of hostility toward the SDP while in office as APC governor, rendered him ineligible for membership.
As a result, the NWC resolved that El-Rufai is banished from applying for membership or associating with the party’s name, logo, insignia, or participating in its affairs for a period of 30 years.
The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant authorities to take note that El-Rufai is not a member of the SDP and has no authority to speak or act on its behalf.
Reaffirming its commitment to internal democracy, transparency, and rule of law, the SDP encouraged all Nigerians who wish to join the party to do so through lawful and verifiable means.
The party further revealed that El-Rufai had proposed a grand welcome ceremony at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, but was advised to return to his ward in Kaduna to begin the proper registration process. Instead of complying, the former governor allegedly went ahead to self-register and present forged credentials to support his claim.
El-Rufai had recently announced his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress, citing a growing misalignment between his personal values and the direction of the party. He claimed to have defected to the SDP, a claim now forcefully rejected by the national leadership of the Social Democratic Party.
