Olusegun Ariyo
The Social Democratic Party, SDP, Kaduna State chapter, has described as false the report banishing the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, from the SDP for thirty years.
Urban Express News Online recalls a widely circulated report in the media a few hours ago that SDP, his acclaimed new party, has banished him for 30 years.
But, in a statement by Hon. Darius Kurah, Publicity Secretary, Kaduna State Chapter, it said the statement issued by Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, who claimed to be an official member of the party, was false and does not represent the party as its National Publicity Secretary, saying the authentic and duly recognized National Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party is Amb. Judith Shua’ibu.
“Therefore, any statement issued under Aiyenigba’s name in that capacity is null, unauthorised, and of no consequence,” it said.
According to the statement, the SDP, as a democratic institution, operates under a constitution that outlines clear processes for membership admission and disciplinary action, adding that at no point did Mallam El-Rufai receive any official query, disciplinary hearing, or expulsion notice from any legally constituted organ of the party, including his ward or the National Working Committee (NWC).
It said the claim that Mallam El-Rufai is promoting the activities of other political parties is baseless, adding that El-Rufai has consistently shown a commitment to good governance and national discourse but has not claimed or paraded himself as an SDP member in any official capacity.
“This misleading publication appears to be a politically motivated attempt to confuse within the party and the general public. Unfortunately, individuals with no constitutional authority within the party structure are being used to orchestrate cheap propaganda and character assassination,” the statement said.
Mallam El-Rufai has formally declared membership of the SDP and completed the constitutional requirements, such as ward registration. Any suggestion otherwise is a fabrication aimed at dragging his name into political speculation.
