Victoria Ogunyemi
The Kaduna State Chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has distanced itself from former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, stating that he is not a registered member of the party in the state.
This comes amid reports that El-Rufai and some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had defected to the SDP. The former governor cited a growing misalignment between his values and the APC’s direction as his reason for leaving the ruling party.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, El-Rufai expressed disappointment with the APC’s leadership, stating:
“As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC. Since 2013, I have hoped that my personal values and those of the APC will continue to align until I choose to retire from politics.”
However, addressing journalists at a press conference in Kaduna on Friday, the party’s Assistant National Secretary (Northwest Zone), Idris Inuwa, dismissed reports of El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP, insisting that he had not followed the proper registration process.
“It has come to our notice that certain individuals, including Nasir El-Rufai, are being rumored to have joined the SDP. However, neither the Chairman of the Kaduna North Local Government Chapter in Kaduna State, nor the leadership of Unguwar Sarki Ward, has any record of these memberships,” Inuwa stated.
He further advised El-Rufai and others interested in joining the party to adhere to SDP’s established procedures.
“We advise him and any other interested individuals to follow the proper procedures if they wish to officially become members of the party,” Inuwa added.
The Kaduna SDP also rejected the reported dissolution of its State Working Committee, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of internal democratic principles.
According to Inuwa, a letter from the National Secretariat of the SDP dated February 25, 2025, attempted to dissolve the Kaduna State Executive Committee, but the state leadership firmly rejected it.
“The Kaduna State Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) categorically rejects the purported dissolution of the State Working Committee. This body holds a four-year mandate that remains valid, binding, and legally recognized throughout its tenure,” Inuwa emphasized.
He noted that the SDP Constitution provides clear guidelines for dissolving a State Executive Committee, which include initiating an investigation, forming a committee, and ensuring a fair hearing none of which were followed before the dissolution letter was issued.
“The SDP constitution clearly outlines the process and procedure for dissolving a State Exco, which includes but is not limited to initiating an investigation, setting up a committee, and providing fair hearing transparently before a decision is taken. None of these steps were followed—only the resort to an illegal unilateral letter of dissolution,” he explained.
Despite the controversy, Inuwa reiterated that the Kaduna SDP remains open to welcoming new members, provided they follow the proper registration process.
“While we recognize the growing interest of individuals and groups in joining the SDP, we emphasize that there are well-defined guidelines and constitutional provisions governing membership admission. The State Executive Council (Exco) remains open and welcoming to all prospective members who adhere to these established procedures,” he stated.
With this development, the political atmosphere in Kaduna remains tense, as the fate of El-Rufai’s alleged defection to the SDP continues to be uncertain.