It appears that as of July 25, 2025, the Social Democratic Party (SDP)—particularly its Kaduna State chapter—has publicly distanced itself from former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El‑Rufai, stating emphatically that:
He is not a registered member of the party.
He has never participated in SDP strategy sessions or official programs.
He has no record in any SDP membership database.
According to Alhaji Idris Inuwa, SDP’s North-West Zonal Secretary, El‑Rufai has been impersonating the party, falsely claiming to speak or act on behalf of SDP without authorization or mandate. The party characterized such actions as “grave impersonation and reputational sabotage.” They clarified that only the party’s recognized leadership, such as Acting National Chairman Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, National Secretary Dr. Olu Agunloye, and 2023 Presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo, are authorized to speak for SDP.
El‑Rufai officially defected from the ruling APC to SDP in March 2025, announcing intentions to align with a platform focused on internal democracy and distancing from “godfatherism.”
However, the SDP Kaduna leadership disputes that his defection ever led to formal membership or representation within the party, particularly at the zonal and state levels.
