SDP Drops the Hammer on El-Rufai
Drama unfolded in Nigeria’s political scene as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) declared the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, persona non grata—banning him for an astonishing 30 years. The announcement, made by the national Publicity Secretary Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, accused Nasir El-Rufai of everything from inventing his own membership papers to plotting an outright takeover of the party's structure.
So what got El-Rufai in this mess? The SDP’s leadership claims he was never a legitimate member, but instead tried to sneak in with forged documents. Even more damning, they say he’s been cozying up to the rival African Democratic Congress (ADC) while claiming SDP loyalty. For party leaders in Abuja, that’s betrayal and 'gross indiscipline'—and they’re not mincing words, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to treat El-Rufai as a political outcast until 2055. That’s not just a slap on the wrist; that’s a multigenerational banishment.
Internal Fighting Shakes SDP
The twist? The Kaduna State SDP chapter isn’t buying the story coming from the national office. Their quick rebuttal called the expulsion 'false' and totally unauthorized, insisting that El-Rufai followed the proper channels to join their ranks. According to Kaduna party officials, the noise from Abuja is nothing but an orchestrated hit job, designed to smear the former governor’s name. It’s not just a battle over one man—it’s exposing a serious rift within the SDP itself.
Behind the scenes, this is more than party drama. The internal clash highlights a growing struggle over who really controls Nigeria’s older political parties. With national and state branches pointing fingers, questions hang over the SDP’s unity—can a centrally run party enforce discipline if the local chapters refuse to play along? El-Rufai, a political heavyweight with a knack for controversy, has become the flashpoint for a party torn between enforcing tough rules and managing a patchwork of power bases at the state level.
For everyday supporters, it’s dizzying. Membership lists are murky, the accusations are flying, and the real contest seems less about ideology and more about turf. Whether the national leadership can make its 30-year ban stick with INEC and on the ground in Kaduna is now an open question. One thing’s clear: the SDP’s dirty laundry is out in the open, and both sides seem ready to fight this one for years to come.
