Controversy erupts as Kaduna SDP denies El-Rufai’s membership claims
…Says he did not follow due process for registration
By Austine Agbo Emmanuel Kaduna
Political tensions have flared in Kaduna State as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has firmly refuted claims that former Governor Nasir El-Rufai is a registered member of the party.
The SDP clarified that there is no official record of El-Rufai’s membership at its secretariat, dismissing widespread speculation about his alleged defection.
Addressing the issue at a press conference in Kaduna on Friday, the party’s Assistant National Secretary for the Northwest zone, Idris Inuwa, sought to set the record straight. He explained that despite reports of El-Rufai joining the SDP, the former governor had not completed the required registration process.
“We have been made aware of circulating rumours that Malam Nasir El-Rufai has joined the SDP. However, neither the Chairman of the Kaduna North Local Government Chapter nor the leadership of Unguwar Sarki Ward has any documentation confirming his membership,” Inuwa stated.
He urged El-Rufai, along with any other prospective members, to follow the official registration procedures if they wish to be recognised as party members.
El-Rufai’s purported defection to the SDP on 10 March 2025 came shortly after his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Despite this, the SDP leadership in Kaduna State has made it clear that until he formally registers, his membership remains unofficial.
Inuwa dismissed reports of the Kaduna State Working Committee’s dissolution, describing them as unconstitutional and a violation of the party’s democratic processes.
“The Kaduna State Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) outrightly rejects any claims of the dissolution of the State Working Committee, as referenced in a letter from the National Secretariat dated 25 February 2025,” Inuwa affirmed.
He insisted that the State Executive Committee was constituted through a properly conducted congress and retains its valid four-year mandate.
According to him, the party’s constitution outlines specific procedures for dissolving a State Executive Committee, which include launching an investigation, forming a review panel, and ensuring a fair hearing—none of which had taken place.
“The Kaduna State Executive Committee was legitimately formed through a congress that reflected the collective will of party members. It continues to operate within the boundaries of the party’s constitution, with a four-year mandate that remains in effect,” he added.
Reaffirming the party’s openness to new members, Inuwa underscored the importance of adhering to due process.
“We welcome the growing interest in the SDP but must stress that membership is granted through a clearly defined process. The State Executive Council remains open to all who wish to join, provided they follow the stipulated guidelines,” he concluded.
