THE Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and imposed a 30-year ban on his political association with the party, citing serious infractions including forgery, impersonation, and attempts to destabilize the party’s internal structure.
The dramatic expulsion, announced via a strongly-worded statement on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba, accused El-Rufai of falsely parading himself as a member of the SDP without fulfilling the legal requirement of registration at his ward level.
“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.
The party also accused him of forging documents, manipulating internal affairs, and aligning with another political party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), all while allegedly misleading party stakeholders and the general public.
According to the statement, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the SDP carried out thorough investigations into El-Rufai’s claims and activities after his public announcement of joining the party triggered both confusion and congratulations from within the party’s leadership.
Initially given the benefit of the doubt due to his national stature as a former minister and governor, the investigation revealed that El-Rufai never properly joined the SDP but rather orchestrated a false narrative.
“He devoted so much time to putting up false representation of membership by seeking photo opportunities with suspended National Chairman Shehu Musa Gabam and other party leaders who assumed he had joined,” the statement added.
The SDP leadership was especially critical of his self-appointment as ‘Number 001’ on the party’s membership register in his ward, calling it “an act of forgery and political arrogance,” noting that such a record was non-existent and contrary to existing membership data in Kaduna State.
The party also pointed to El-Rufai’s recent declaration for the ADC as further evidence of political insincerity. It alleged that while falsely claiming SDP membership, the former governor was actively engaging with the ADC and attempting to draw the SDP into unauthorized political coalitions.
“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 statement noted.
As a consequence, the SDP formally announced that El-Rufai is barred from applying for membership, identifying with the party, or participating in its activities for a period of 30 years, effective immediately.
The SDP also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political observers, and the Nigerian public to note that El-Rufai is not a recognized member of the party and is not authorized to speak or act on its behalf.
“We call on all Nigerians aspiring to join our party to do so lawfully and transparently. There will be no room for backdoor politics or manipulation of our democratic values,” the party stated.
The expulsion comes just months after El-Rufai publicly announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing ideological differences and a growing misalignment between his personal values and the ruling party’s direction.
His move to join the SDP was met with initial interest, but the party now claims that El-Rufai attempted to stage an elaborate charade, including a proposed “grand welcome ceremony” at the SDP’s national secretariat in Abuja, which was ultimately rejected.
“Rather than register lawfully with the Ward Executives, this individual simply forged his own documents and self-registered, arrogating to himself ‘number 001’ in the SDP membership register of Unguwar Sarki Ward,” the statement revealed.
As at press time, Nasir El-Rufai had not publicly responded to the SDP’s expulsion notice or the accusations leveled against him.