SDP Ban: Presidency Mocks El-Rufai, Says Ex-Gov ‘Internally Displaced’

The Presidency has taken a swipe at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following his expulsion from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), jokingly describing him as “Internally Displaced Again!”

Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, made the remark in a social media post on Monday while reacting to news of El-Rufai’s 30-year ban from the SDP.

The comment appeared to reflect growing political uncertainties surrounding El-Rufai, who recently parted ways with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and announced his defection to the SDP.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced El-Rufai’s expulsion on Monday, accusing the former Kaduna State governor of impersonation and misrepresentation.

In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, SDP said El-Rufai had been falsely parading himself as a member despite never undergoing formal registration as required by the party’s constitution.

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“This individual, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has in recent months been parading himself as a member of the SDP despite the assertion of the Kaduna State Executives that he has not joined the SDP but has instead been promoting the activities of another political party in the state,” Aiyenigba said.

The party noted that El-Rufai failed to register at his ward level, a fundamental constitutional requirement for valid membership, and yet publicly declared affiliation with the SDP.

This led to widespread congratulations from party members and a letter of support allegedly issued at his request.

“At the initial stage, this individual was given the benefit of the doubt given his status as an elderly person, a former Minister and State Governor who should know the implications of false representation,” the statement added.

It said following internal investigations and verification from its Kaduna State chapter, the party concluded that El-Rufai’s membership claim was unfounded and misleading.

Invoking its constitutional provisions of the Electoral Act, the NWC imposed a 30-year ban on El-Rufai, barring him from seeking membership or associating with the party in any form until 2055.