El-Rufai has no authority to represent us – SDP

By Mayen Etim, Kaduna

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has disowned the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, stating that he is not a party member and has no authority to represent it.

The Party’s Assistant National Secretary (Northwest), Alhaji Idris Inuwa, made the declaration at a press briefing in Kaduna on Friday, warning the public to disregard El-Rufai’s recent appearances under the party’s banner.

According to him, El-Rufai’s actions amount to impersonation and reputational sabotage, as he has been appearing at public functions and stakeholders meetings purporting to represent the SDP without the party’s consent or knowledge.

The party emphasized that El-Rufai has never been registered as a member, never participated in its strategy sessions, and has no record in its database.

“It is now public knowledge that, penultimate week, one Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai – flanked by a band of meddlesome politicians in Kaduna State attended a gathering where he brazenly and falsely claimed to speak for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), arrogating to himself a leadership role he neither holds nor deserves.

We will like to state that we categorically and unequivocally denounce the actions of Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and his band of failed

“We will like to state that we categorically and unequivocally denounce the actions of Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and his band of failed, meddlesome politicians who have repeatedly and fraudulently paraded themselves as representatives of our esteemed SDP in Kaduna State.

“This individual and his co-travelers whose names have surfaced in multiple public/private meetings and engagements, have never been recognized members of the SDP, nor does any one of them hold any official position of mandate to speak or act on behalf of the SDP in Kaduna State,” the party stated.

The Assistant National Secretary also noted that “At no point has our Party issued a letter of appointment, nomination, or delegation to this individual to serve in any capacity, formal or informal.

We have reason to believe that this person is a busybody leveraging the name of our party for his personal gain or relevance circles where he otherwise lacks credibility

“We have reason to believe that this person is a busybody leveraging the name of our party for his personal gain or relevance circles where he otherwise lacks credibility. His jobless meanderings from meeting to meeting under our banner are not only fraudulent but also pathetic attempts at self-promotion. No legitimate institution or stakeholder should associate with him under the impression that he carries our backing,” he said.

The SDP urged all media outlets, development partners, and political actors to ignore any representation or statement made by El-Rufai in the party’s name, insisting that only the national leadership can speak for the party.

The party also called for the immediate suspension of Dr. Umar Ardo, accusing him of using the SDP platform to promote another political party, the African Democratic Alternative (ADA).

The party described El-Rufai as a self-serving individual with no connection to the party.

The SDP warned that continued impersonation by El-Rufai or Ardo would lead to the constitution of a special committee to investigate and publish their misdeeds.