• SDP Confirms el-Rufai’s Defection Amidst Internal Concerns
The Conference of Professionals in the Peoples Democratic Party (CP-PDP) has advised President Bola Tinubu to abandon any plans for a second term, asserting that Nigerians are determined to vote him out in 2027.
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Olu Agunloye, has confirmed that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has joined the party. However, he acknowledged concerns from some Kaduna SDP members regarding the legitimacy of el-Rufai’s membership.
The PDP-affiliated group urged President Tinubu to accept the reality that his administration will not extend beyond May 29, 2027, emphasizing that Nigerians will not reward economic hardship and poor governance with re-election. They also warned against any attempts to manipulate the upcoming presidential election.
Speaking in Abuja, CP-PDP’s Protem National Coordinator, Obinna Nwachukwu, dismissed any possibility of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gaining control of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), calling it a PDP stronghold. He maintained that no level of electoral manipulation, intimidation, or coercion would change the party’s dominance in the FCT ahead of the February 2026 Area Council elections.
Nwachukwu’s remarks were in response to Tinubu’s admission on March 30, 2025, that he approved FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s request to exempt the territory from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for political reasons.
He further alleged that Tinubu threatened to dismiss Wike if the PDP retained its lead in the FCT elections, despite the capital being historically controlled by the PDP. The party currently holds 42 councilor positions and three chairmanships, compared to the APC’s 20 councilors and three chairmen.
In a separate interview, Agunloye discussed the SDP’s registration process and the controversy surrounding el-Rufai’s entry into the party. When asked if the former governor’s defection was welcomed, he responded:
“Of course, we are happy to have him. Which party wouldn’t want a dynamic and energetic politician like el-Rufai? He officially joined SDP on March 10, 2025, about three weeks ago.”
However, protests from some Kaduna SDP members have cast doubt on el-Rufai’s official status within the party. Agunloye clarified that the demonstrations were not directed at el-Rufai personally but were about ensuring proper procedural compliance.
“I looked into the concerns and found that the protests were not against him as an individual but were focused on procedural matters,” he explained.
