SDP National Secretary Confirms El-Rufai’s Membership.
The National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Olu Agunloye, has confirmed that former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has officially joined the party. However, his membership has sparked concerns among SDP members in Kaduna regarding the legitimacy of his registration.
Speaking in an interview with *Newsnwm*, Agunloye expressed enthusiasm over El-Rufai’s decision to join the party. “Of course, we are happy to have the former governor and minister, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, in the SDP. Which party wouldn’t want such a vibrant and energetic politician? He joined on 10 March 2025,” he said.
Despite the warm welcome from the national leadership, some Kaduna SDP members have protested the process through which El-Rufai joined. Agunloye explained that the concerns were procedural rather than personal, emphasising that proper party protocols must be followed.
“The correct process is registration at the ward level. New members cannot admit themselves. They must be registered by the ward chairman. After this, ceremonies can be held anywhere, but the ward must initiate the process,” he clarified.
According to party rules, the ward must submit an updated register through the state chairman to the national secretariat before the membership is officially communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). While Agunloye confirmed El-Rufai’s membership, he admitted being unaware of the specific terms under which the former governor joined the party.
“I do not know under what deal or conditions he joined. But for legitimacy, his membership must be officially communicated to INEC,” he noted.
When asked about El-Rufai’s political intentions, Agunloye remained reserved, stating that the party’s national chairman would address the issue in due course.
With the controversy surrounding his registration process, attention now turns to how the SDP will address the concerns and what role El-Rufai will play in shaping the party’s future.
