BREAKING: SDP Expels, Ban El-Rufai 30-Years

SDP has expelled former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and imposed a 30-year ban on him over alleged false membership claims and actions deemed destabilising to the party.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and imposed a 30-year ban on him from associating with the party.

According to a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, on Monday, the decision was taken by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and was in line with the party’s “constitution, ideology, manifesto, principles and practices, as well as in consonance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act pertaining to the exclusive right of a political party to determine its membership.”

The SDP warned its members and the public “not to have any dealings with him as he is not a member of the party, and does not represent the party’s interests at any level and for any purpose or to any intent.”

The party has also formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant institutions of El-Rufai’s non-member status and ineligibility for party membership until July 28, 2055.

The NWC said it reviewed El-Rufai’s alleged involvement with the party and found that he had not formally joined through the appropriate processes. Despite claims and social media posts suggesting he had joined the SDP, the Kaduna State chapter maintained that no official registration had occurred.

“At the initial stage, El-Rufai was given the benefit of the doubt, given his status as an elderly person, a former minister and state governor who should know the implications of false representation and impersonation, especially given the fact that he published on his social media handles that he had joined the SDP, which led to congratulatory messages from prominent leaders of our party and a letter of support at his request by the National Publicity Secretary,” the party explained.

However, it added that “upon thorough inquiry, it turned out that the Kaduna SDP was right that El-Rufai has not joined the SDP.”

The statement further accused El-Rufai of “false representation” by failing to register properly at his ward. Instead, he allegedly forged documents and self-registered as “number 001 in the SDP membership register of Unguwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna North Local Government Area,” a claim the party says contradicts all existing records.

Beyond the membership issue, the party accused El-Rufai of trading with the SDP name illegitimately and engaging in destabilising activities. “His dodgy membership status aside, he has been illegitimately trading with the name of the SDP in various forums and other political transactions around the so-called coalition,” the party alleged.

The NWC also highlighted that “peace which was the hallmark of the party has eluded it since he began fraternising with our leadership and membership.”

The statement continued: “The obscene dangling of cash and other inducements and pure guile and utter deception, misinformation and disinformation have characterised his modus operandi leading to years of comradeship giving way to disunity, distrust, intrigues and manipulations, culminating in sponsorship and financing of grossly unconstitutional and brazenly bizarre pronouncements and gambits.”

DON’T MISS: BREAKING: SDP Disowns El-Rufa, Issues Strong Warning

The party reaffirmed that El-Rufai’s expulsion was supported by his ward and state chapter. “The SDP at all levels disassociates, disclaims, dis-fellowships and excommunicates El-Rufai as a member of the SDP.”

It added that “to the extent that he purportedly claims membership by self registration or any other means, he is consequently, expelled from the membership of the Social Democratic Party anywhere in Nigeria and globally.”

According to the statement, the decision is rooted in Article 19.1; 19.3(i); and 19.5 of the party’s 2022 constitution (as amended), and based on “unacceptable acts of El-Rufai’s gross indiscipline.”

These include “having publicly declared for the ADC, which is chosen as their so-called ‘coalition’ vehicle and his confirmed acts towards dragging the SDP dishonestly into their so-called coalition through the back door,” as well as attempting to destabilise the party by “sponsoring a group of dissidents to call an illegal National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party on Friday July 25, 2025.”

The party concluded: “El-Rufai is hereby banished and banned from applying to the membership, identifying with the name, insignia, logo, symbol, mark or any activities, organs, agencies and institutions of the SDP or donating to, supporting, contributing to, participating in any affairs of the SDP for a period of 30 years effective from today.”

Reaffirming its ideological commitment, the SDP stated: “We welcome all Nigerians who subscribe to these ideals and have the revolutionary patience to move the Nigerian people towards the abolition of corruption and farewell to poverty and insecurity, without cutting corners and indulging in duplicity or insincerity.”