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El-Rufai expelled, barred from SDP activities for 30 years
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Party cites forgery, impersonation, anti-party actions
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SDP urges INEC, public to disregard El-Rufai’s claimed affiliation
In a sweeping disciplinary move, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, from the party and imposed a 30-year ban on his participation in any of its affairs, citing impersonation, forgery, and acts deemed destabilizing to the party’s integrity.
This was contained in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba, and made available to PlatinumPost on Monday in Abuja.
The statement followed what the party described as a comprehensive investigation into El-Rufai’s alleged backdoor political activities and manipulation of party structures.
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The statement reads partly:“El-Rufai never registered with the SDP at his ward level as required by the party’s constitution, yet falsely declared on social media that he had joined the party. He further forged documents claiming membership and took photo opportunities with suspended party leaders to reinforce this falsehood.”
“In line with the Constitution of the SDP, the ideology, manifesto, principles and practices thereof, and in consonance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act pertaining to the exclusive right of a political party to determine its membership, the National Working Committee deliberated on the controversial membership status of Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai from Kaduna State who has in recent months been parading himself as a member of the SDP despite the assertion of the Kaduna State Executives that he has not joined the SDP but has instead been promoting the activities of other political party in the State,” it added.
The statement further noted:“At the initial stage, this individual Nasir Ahmad 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.”
“However upon thorough inquiry, it turned out that the Kaduna State SDP was right and this individual had not joined the SDP. The following facts emerged: Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai failed to register at his Ward as required by the law despite falsely publishing on social media that he had joined the SDP,” the statement added.
The party accused El-Rufai of aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and attempting to drag the SDP into an unauthorized coalition. It stated that his actions violated the core principles of the party and portrayed deliberate sabotage of its democratic values.
“Having confirmed that he publicly declared for the ADC and continued to act in a manner contrary to the principles and practices of the SDP, the party has no option but to disassociate and excommunicate him,” the statement added.
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Consequently, the SDP said El-Rufai is “banished and banned from applying to the membership, identifying with the name, insignia, logo, or participating in any affairs of the SDP for a period of 30 years, effective immediately.”
The statement called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public to disregard any claim of membership by El-Rufai, stressing that he is not authorized to speak or act on behalf of the SDP.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, rule of law, and internal cohesion, the party urged Nigerians to pursue party membership through lawful and verifiable processes.
