In a stunning political development, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and barred him from participating in party affairs for the next 30 years.
This decision comes just weeks after El-Rufai publicly declared his exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and claimed to have joined the SDP—claims now deemed false and fraudulent by the party’s leadership.
The SDP National Working Committee (NWC) released a strongly worded statement on Monday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba, revealing that El-Rufai never formally registered as a party member in his ward in Kaduna State. Despite this, he allegedly paraded himself online and offline as a bona fide member, even forging documents to support his claims.
According to the party, thorough investigations exposed El-Rufai’s deceptive conduct and attempts to manipulate internal structures by aligning with suspended party officials and misrepresenting his affiliation. The NWC noted that his actions had not only sown internal discord but also violated the SDP’s constitutional principles and the Electoral Act.
“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,” the statement read.
“He further forged documents claiming membership and took photo opportunities with suspended party leaders to reinforce this falsehood.”
The SDP leadership emphasized that initial goodwill extended to El-Rufai, based on his status as a former governor and minister, was later withdrawn when his “false representation and impersonation” became undeniable.
Further findings revealed that El-Rufai had also declared for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), even while pushing for an unauthorized coalition with the SDP—an act the party viewed as a gross breach of integrity and ideological alignment.
As a result, the party declared:
“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 SDP called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public to disregard any future claims or representations by El-Rufai in connection with the party.
Interestingly, the party disclosed that El-Rufai had earlier planned a grand welcome ceremony at the SDP National Secretariat in Abuja.
However, he was advised to return to his ward in Kaduna to complete a lawful registration and eligibility process.
Instead, he reportedly created forged membership documents, claiming to be “Number 001” of the Unguwar Sarki Ward register—an action SDP officials have flatly dismissed as fraudulent and disrespectful to existing members.
The former governor had cited a “growing misalignment” between his personal values and the APC’s direction as the reason for his resignation from the ruling party. But the SDP now insists that his approach to joining a new political platform has disqualified him from any future association.
With this bold move, the SDP reiterates its commitment to internal democracy, national development, and credible leadership, urging new members to join through transparent and lawful processes.
