The Social Democratic Party (SDP) today unequivocally disowned former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, stating he is not a member and has no authority to represent the party.
The declaration was made by the SDP Zonal Secretary, North-West Zone, Inuwa Idris, during a press briefing in Kaduna on Friday.
El-Rufai’s Actions Not Sanctioned by SDP
Idris revealed that the party had become aware of Malam El-Rufai appearing in various forums, including policy dialogues, stakeholder engagements, and private strategy meetings, purporting to speak on behalf of the SDP. “Let this be made unequivocally clear to all: Malam El-Rufai is not authorised, mandated, or recognised by the SDP in any capacity to represent its interests, articulate its positions, or speak on its behalf,” Idris asserted. He emphasized that El-Rufai’s actions were carried out “entirely without the knowledge, consent, or approval of the party’s national leadership,” including the acting National Chairman, Dr. Sadiq Umar.
No Record of Membership or Mandate
The Zonal Secretary further stressed that El-Rufai’s name does not appear in any of the party’s membership records. He has never participated in SDP programs nor has he been issued any appointment or mandate to act on behalf of the party at any level. Idris reaffirmed the leadership of Dr. Umar, National Secretary Chief Olu Agunloye, and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo. The public and stakeholders were warned to disregard any statements issued by El-Rufai under the SDP banner.
Transparency and Official Communication Channels
Idris explained that the SDP maintains a transparent system for delegation and official communication. He added that all future engagements, policy discussions, or collaborative initiatives involving the party must be channeled through officially endorsed representatives, whose identities would be made available upon request. “We pass a vote of no confidence on Malam Nasiru El-Rufai,” he stated firmly.
Call for Suspension of Dr. Umar Ardo
In a related development, Idris called for the immediate suspension of Dr. Umar Ardo from the SDP, alleging he is now a known promoter of a new political party, the ADC. “Resorting to the use of the SDP Platform is the height of desperation and a crass display of failure in political brinkmanship,” Idris remarked. He issued a “final warning” for them to “desist from your fraudulent activities,” threatening that “any further impersonation or we will be compelled to call for a special committee by the powers of NEC to look into these matters with a view of publishing all the misdeeds across all available platforms.”
