The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, banning him from the party for the next 30 years.
The party made the decision public through a statement released on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba.
According to the statement, El-Rufai never formally joined the party. “Upon thorough inquiry, it turned out that the Kaduna State SDP was right that El-Rufai has not joined the SDP,” it said. The party accused him of impersonating a member and using its name without approval.
“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,” the party said. “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.”
But the party said he never registered at his ward as required. Instead, it said, “El-Rufai simply forged his own documents and self-registered and arrogated to himself ‘number 001 in the SDP membership register of Unguwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna North Local Government Area,’ as if the ward had no single member prior to his purported joining.”
The SDP accused El-Rufai of “trading with the name of the SDP in various forums” despite not being a legitimate member. It added that his involvement has brought instability: “Peace, which was the hallmark of the party, has eluded it since he began fraternising with our leadership and membership.”
It further alleged that El-Rufai used “cash and other inducements” to manipulate internal affairs. “Comradeship gave way to disunity, distrust, intrigues and manipulations,” the party said, accusing him of sponsoring unconstitutional moves, including a failed attempt to call an illegal NEC meeting on July 25, 2025.
“The SDP at all levels disassociates, disclaims, dis-fellowships and excommunicates El-Rufai as a member of the SDP,” the statement read. “He is consequently expelled from the membership of the Social Democratic Party anywhere in Nigeria and globally.”
“El-Rufai is hereby banished and banned from applying to the membership, identifying with the name, insignia, logo, symbol, mark or any activities… for a period of 30 years effective from today,” the statement added.
