The recent defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has sparked tension within the party, with protests in Kaduna questioning the legitimacy of his membership. While some members celebrate his arrival, others insist that due process was not followed.
In an interview, SDP’s National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, confirmed El-Rufai’s entry but admitted that certain procedural steps were overlooked.
Despite the controversy, Agunloye made it clear that the party values El-Rufai’s presence.
“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 said.
However, this welcome is overshadowed by protests from party members in Kaduna, who argue that the former governor is not yet an official member.
According to Agunloye, the protests are not necessarily against El-Rufai but rather about the way he joined the party.
“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 clarified.
The SDP National Secretary explained that membership in the party must start at the Ward level. Without this step, any claim to membership is technically invalid.
“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. After the Ward registration, flamboyant ceremonies may be performed at the SDP headquarters in Abuja, Jos, Port Harcourt, New York, or anywhere at any time.
“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,” he explained.
While El-Rufai’s presence in the SDP has been widely reported, Agunloye hinted that it may not yet be official in the legal sense.
“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 admitted.
Perhaps the most pressing question is: Why did El-Rufai join the SDP, and what are his political ambitions? Agunloye refused to speculate but assured that the party’s leadership would soon provide clarity.
“Our National Chairman will disclose this information soon,” he said.
For now, the situation remains uncertain. Will the SDP leadership resolve the procedural issues and officially integrate El-Rufai into the party, or will the controversy deepen? One thing is clear—El-Rufai’s move has already reshaped the political conversation ahead of 2027.
