The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kaduna State has rejected former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, asserting that he is not a recognized member of the party in the state.
El-Rufai, alongside several members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently switched allegiance to the SDP, citing a disconnect between his personal values and the direction of the APC.
In a statement posted on his social media account, El-Rufai criticized the leadership of the APC, accusing it of abandoning the progressive ideals on which it was founded.
“As a founding member of the APC, I have cherished memories of working alongside others to merge parties into what became the APC. I had hoped that my values and those of the party would remain aligned until I chose to retire from politics,” El-Rufai stated.
However, during a press briefing in Kaduna on Friday, Idris Inuwa, the SDP’s Assistant National Secretary for the Northwest Zone, dismissed claims of El-Rufai joining the party, noting that there were no records of his membership at the local level.
“We have heard rumors that El-Rufai has joined the SDP, but neither the chairman of the Kaduna North Local Government Chapter nor the leadership of Unguwar Sarki Ward has any record of his membership,” Inuwa said.
He further advised El-Rufai and anyone else interested in joining the party to follow the correct procedures to become official members.
Inuwa also refuted the claim that the SDP’s Kaduna State Working Committee had been dissolved, calling the move unconstitutional and a violation of the party’s principles of due process and internal democracy.
“The dissolution of the State Working Committee, as outlined in a letter from the National Secretariat dated February 25, 2025, is illegal. The current Executive Committee was duly elected through a legitimate State Congress and holds a valid four-year mandate,” Inuwa explained.
He emphasized that the SDP’s constitution lays out a clear procedure for dissolving a State Executive Committee, including conducting investigations, forming a committee, and ensuring a fair hearing all of which were not observed in this case.
“The State Executive Committee remains legally recognized and binding for the duration of its term,” Inuwa concluded.
In closing, Inuwa reiterated that the Kaduna State SDP welcomes new members, provided they adhere to the party’s established membership procedures.
