The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, from the party and banned him from associating with the party in any capacity for the next 30 years.

In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP accused El-Rufai of falsely claiming party membership, manipulating internal processes, and attempting to destabilize the party through “unconstitutional actions and deceptive political maneuvers.”

According to the party, “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.”

The party described El-Rufai’s conduct as characterized by “gross indiscipline, misinformation, inducement, and manipulation,” alleging that these actions had fueled internal divisions and threatened the SDP’s unity and ideological integrity.

SDP further accused the former governor of aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) while attempting to drag the SDP into an unapproved political coalition. “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.

“Consequently, El-Rufai has been 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 party said its investigations confirmed that El-Rufai never followed due process, failed to register at his ward, and instead “forged his own documents and self-registered and arrogated to himself ‘number 001 in the SDP membership register of Unguwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna North Local Government Area’, as if the Ward had no single member prior to his purported joining.”

According to the NWC, El-Rufai was also “illegitimately trading with the name of the SDP in various forums and other political transactions around the so-called Coalition, despite knowing that he has no such authority and contrary to the declared policy of the SDP National Working Committee and other organs.”

The statement also revealed that El-Rufai had attempted to sponsor an “illegal” National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Friday, July 25, 2025, aimed at destabilizing the party after his coalition plan failed.

“The NWC therefore and hereby decides that by confirming and ratifying the denunciation of Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai which was earlier done by his Unguwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna North Local Government Area and Kaduna State Executive Committee, the SDP at all levels disassociates, disclaims, disfellowships, excommunicates Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai as a member of the SDP,” the statement declared.

It continued, “To the extent that he purportedly claims membership by self-registration or any other means, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is consequently expelled from the membership of the Social Democratic Party anywhere in Nigeria and globally.”

The NWC said the action was taken under its constitutional powers, citing Article 19.1; 19.3(i) and 19.5 of the Party Constitution (2022, as amended), and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant institutions to take note of El-Rufai’s “non-member status and non-eligibility.”

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant agencies and institutions are hereby notified of the non-member status and non-eligibility of Mallam Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufai for SDP membership effective until Wednesday, July 28, 2055,” the statement read.

Reaffirming its commitment to discipline, principled opposition, and democratic values, the SDP said, “We welcome all Nigerians who subscribe to these ideals and have the revolutionary patience to move the Nigerian people towards Abolition of Corruption and Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity, without cutting corners and indulging in duplicity or insincerity.”