SDP Official Denies El-Rufai’s Membership, Says He Didn’t Follow Due Process

The controversy surrounding former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s reported defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has taken a new twist, as a party official insists he is not a registered member.

Idris Inuwa, the assistant national secretary for SDP’s northwest zone, stated on Friday that el-Rufai has no official membership record with the party, despite his publicized exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

On March 10, el-Rufai announced his resignation from the APC, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership. In a statement, he expressed concerns over what he described as the APC’s “capricious trajectory” and said his repeated warnings were ignored.

“At this point in my political journey, I have concluded that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish,” el-Rufai declared.

Following his announcement, the former governor met with SDP leaders, including the party’s national chairman, Shehu Gabam, in Abuja, sparking widespread speculation about his official membership status.

However, speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, Inuwa dismissed the reports of el-Rufai’s membership, stating that neither the Kaduna state chapter of the SDP nor the ward leadership had any record of his registration.

“It has come to our notice that certain individuals, including Nasir el-Rufai, are being rumoured to have joined the SDP,” Inuwa said. “However, neither the chairman of the Kaduna North local government chapter nor the leadership of Unguwar Sarki ward has any record of these memberships.”

He emphasized that anyone seeking to join the SDP must adhere to the party’s official registration process, which begins at the ward level before progressing through local, state, and national structures.

Inuwa also criticized the National Working Committee (NWC) for dissolving the Kaduna state SDP working committee, signalling internal tensions within the party.

“While we recognize the growing interest of individuals and groups in joining the SDP, we emphasize that there are well-defined guidelines and constitutional provisions governing membership admission,” he added.

Despite the controversy, Inuwa reaffirmed that the SDP remains open to new members, provided they follow the established procedures.