The Forum of 37 State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party has reaffirmed that former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, remains banned from the party for 30 years.
The statement comes amid persistent rumours that El-Rufai was planning to return to the party ahead of its next national convention.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH on the sidelines of a recent conference in Abuja, the forum Chairman, Femi Olaniyi, maintained that there was “no going back” on El-Rufai’s expulsion, which was ratified by the National Working Committee of the party.
“El-Rufai happened to join this party from the back door. If you recall our press conference on April 3, 2025, we clearly stated that anyone wishing to join the party should do so through their ward via the state chairman. We said they should join diligently, and we would welcome them.
“However, the case of El-Rufai is not something we need to expatiate on now. The NWC will properly brief you on the role he played within the SDP system. But as earlier announced, the NWC, which we fully supported, has suspended El-Rufai for 30 years, and that decision is not questionable. So, he still remains expelled.”
The lingering crisis has left the SDP — Nigeria’s oldest surviving third-force political platform — sharply divided, with rival factions trading accusations of corruption, illegitimacy, and political manipulation.
While the forum of state chairmen insists that the party must undergo “a clinical surgery to excise the cancer of Gabamism,” referring to the faction loyal to suspended National Chairman Shehu Gabam, the opposing camp continues to fight back, setting the stage for a protracted legal and political confrontation.
Efforts to reach El-Rufai’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, for a response were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him were not returned as of press time.
El-Rufai’s troubles with the SDP began in July when the party’s NWC expelled him and declared him ineligible to associate with the party for the next 30 years.
The party accused the former Kaduna governor of falsely parading himself as a member, forging registration documents, and attempting to manipulate internal party structures through unconstitutional means.
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