In a dramatic and unprecedented move, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has announced the expulsion of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and barred him from any association with the party for a period of 30 years.
The bombshell decision, confirmed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba, on Monday, July 28, 2025, follows an extensive investigation into what the SDP describes as El-Rufai’s “deceptive political maneuvers” and “alleged backdoor political activities” that threatened to destabilize the party’s internal structures.
According to the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), their investigation concluded that El-Rufai never officially registered at his ward level, despite his public claims of membership on social media. The party further accused him of forging documents to create a false impression of affiliation and taking “photo opportunities with suspended party leaders” to reinforce this fabrication. These actions, the SDP asserts, directly contradicted their constitution and fueled internal divisions.
Adding to the controversy, the SDP also alleges that El-Rufai was simultaneously aligning himself with another political party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while attempting to pull the SDP into an unauthorized coalition. “Having confirmed that he publicly declared for the ADC and continued to act in a manner contrary to the principles and practices of the SDP, the party has no option but to disassociate and excommunicate him,” the party stated.
Consequently, El-Rufai is now banished from applying for membership, identifying with the SDP’s name or insignia, or participating in any party affairs for three decades. The SDP has formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies of El-Rufai’s non-member status, emphasizing that he is not authorized to act or speak on behalf of the party.
This decisive action underscores the SDP’s commitment to internal democracy and its zero-tolerance policy for what it deems as political opportunism and misrepresentation within its ranks.
