The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and banned him from the party for 30 years.
In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, the party accused El-Rufai of pretending to be a member without registering properly and of trying to destabilize the party through false claims and political tricks.
“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,” said Araba Aiyenigba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary.
The party said El-Rufai also took pictures with suspended SDP leaders to make it seem like he was a member and even forged membership documents.
“He forged his own documents and self-registered, arrogating to himself ‘number 001’ in the SDP register of Unguwar Sarki Ward,” the statement added.
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The SDP said it gave El-Rufai the benefit of the doubt at first, considering his former position as a minister and governor. But after investigating, they found that he never registered at the ward level and had been supporting another political party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while still claiming to be part of the SDP.
“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 said.
The party also revealed that El-Rufai tried to organize a grand welcome ceremony at the SDP headquarters in Abuja, but they advised him to first register properly in his ward. Instead of following the rules, he reportedly faked the entire process.
As a result, the party has banned El-Rufai from identifying with the SDP, using its name, logo, or participating in any of its affairs for the next 30 years.
The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other agencies to note that El-Rufai is not a member of the SDP and has no right to speak or act on its behalf.
The SDP said it remains committed to transparency and lawful membership processes. It encouraged anyone interested in joining to do so properly through their ward offices.
El-Rufai had recently resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the party no longer represented his values.