Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has found himself at the center of a political storm following his recent move to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
While the party’s leadership welcomes him with open arms, protests in Kaduna suggest all is not well within the ranks. The controversy? A question of legitimacy—was due process followed in his admission to the party?
In an interview, SDP’s National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, attempts to set the record straight.
Agunloye confirmed El-Rufai’s entry into the party, describing him as a valuable political asset.
“Of course, we are happy to have the former Governor and former Minister, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, in the Social Democratic Party. Which party wouldn’t want such a vibrant and energetic politician in its fold? The former Governor joined the party on Monday, 10 March 2025, about three weeks ago,” he stated.
However, despite this enthusiasm, some members in Kaduna are pushing back—not against El-Rufai personally, but against the way his membership was handled.
Reports from Kaduna indicated that some party members feel sidelined in the process of El-Rufai’s entry.
Agunloye insisted their grievances are valid but rooted in technicalities.
“I checked and found that the protests and complaints were genuine and were based on formalities. I believe the protesters were not averse to having the former governor in SDP. They were questioning the procedures only,” he explained.
According to SDP guidelines, joining the party is not as simple as a public declaration or an endorsement from top officials. Membership must begin at the Ward level, and until that is done, any claim to being a party member remains unofficial.
“The correct process for joining the Party is to be registered at the Ward level. New members cannot admit themselves into the Party. They must be admitted and registered by the Ward Chairman.
“The first to know about a new member is the Ward. If the Ward has not registered the new members, the LG or the State can correctly say the affected persons are not SDP members. The procedure is that the Ward will register and send its updated register through the State Chairman to the National Secretariat, and then I will formally communicate this to INEC,” Agunloye explained.
Agunloye admitted that while El-Rufai has publicly identified with SDP, his registration has not been formally processed through the necessary channels.
“I do not know on what deal or conditions he joined the Party. But I know that for his membership to be legitimate, it will need to be officially communicated to INEC in writing,” he said.
The biggest question remains: Why did El-Rufai join the SDP, and what does he hope to achieve? Agunloye was tight-lipped about the details, saying only that an official announcement would be made soon.
“Our National Chairman will disclose this information soon,” he stated.
With El-Rufai’s presence stirring internal debates within SDP, the coming weeks will determine whether his membership is formalized or whether internal resistance will complicate his political future.