By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai from its ranks and imposed a 30-year ban on his membership over alleged false representation, impersonation, and activities deemed destabilizing to the party.
The decision was announced on Monday in a statement by SDP National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, following deliberations by the National Working Committee (NWC).
The expulsion, the party stated, was in line with its constitution, guiding principles, and the exclusive rights granted to political parties under Nigeria’s Constitution and Electoral Act.
The NWC accused El-Rufai of parading himself as a member without undergoing lawful registration at his ward in Kaduna State, despite publicly claiming on social media to have joined the SDP.
“At the initial stage, El-Rufai was given the benefit of the doubt, given his status as a former minister and state governor. However, upon thorough inquiry, it turned out that the Kaduna SDP was right that El-Rufai has not joined the SDP,” the statement said.
The party alleged that El-Rufai forged his own documents and self-registered as “number 001” in the Unguwar Sarki Ward membership register and engaged in activities promoting other political parties while using the SDP’s name without authorization.
“His dodgy membership status aside, innumerable have been his destabilising schemes against the SDP at national, state and local levels,” the NWC added, accusing him of using inducements, misinformation, and financing unconstitutional activities within the party.
The SDP also cited his alleged public declaration for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of a coalition arrangement, claiming it violated the party’s declared policy and amounted to gross indiscipline.
The party directed its members nationwide, the public, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and relevant institutions to cease recognizing El-Rufai as a member until July 28, 2055.
The statement reaffirmed the party’s commitment to “national patriotism, party discipline, ideological clarity, and principled opposition,” emphasizing that it would not tolerate duplicity or acts capable of undermining its internal democracy.
