Politics
SDP youths accuse El-Rufai of attempting to hijack party, reject his defection

Published

A coalition of Nigeria’s Social Democratic Party (SDP) youths and supporters has accused the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, of attempting to hijack the party following his recent defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement by its President, Comrade Abdulsamad Bello, on Friday, March 14, 2025, the group expressly rejected El-Rufai’s defection, describing his membership as a direct threat to the core democratic values and progressive ideology that SDP stands for.
This is coming barely five days after the former Kaduna Governor officially switched allegiance to the opposition party, after months of meetings with opposition leaders for a possible coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
However, his defection sparked a storm among party members, particularly the SDP Youths and Supporters Coalition.
Speaking on Friday, Bello described El-Rufai as “unfit and morally unqualified” to be part of the SDP, citing what he called his “anti-democratic record” during his tenure as governor.
ALSO READ: Exodus in Kaduna APC – party in crisis as El-Rufai’s allies resign
“We reject El-Rufai’s entrance into our party in its entirety. He has come not as a reformer but as an undertaker, seeking to bury the SDP before it even has the chance to grow,” the group said.
SDP youths accuse party leaders of making a secret deal with El-Rufai
The coalition also criticised the party’s leadership for what it described as a “clandestine deal” that allowed El-Rufai’s defection, warning that his presence could destabilise the party.
“El-Rufai has never believed in democracy. His history of suppressing opposition voices, sidelining party members, and enforcing his will through coercion is well known.

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ALSO READ: El-Rufai: Buhari approved my defection from APC to SDP
“It is shocking that the leadership of our party would allow itself to be infiltrated by someone whose tenure in office was marked by impunity, authoritarianism, and disregard for democratic values,” Bello added.
The former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister’s arrival in the SDP has triggered tensions. A group of El-Rufai’s supporters staged a demonstration at the SDP national headquarters in Abuja, calling for the resignation of the party’s national secretary, Olu Agunloye.
The youth coalition noted that the development is evidence of El-Rufai’s attempt to seize control of the party’s leadership.
“Barely days after joining our party, El-Rufai is already pushing for a leadership change. He is demanding that Olu Agunloye resigns, even when the party has its own internal mechanisms for handling such matters. This is a clear sign of his desperation to control the SDP and mould it in his own image,” the statement added.
The group accused El-Rufai of using the SDP as a platform for his personal political ambitions, particularly in light of his recent criticisms of President Tinubu and the APC.
“El-Rufai’s resignation from the APC and his calculated entry into the SDP is nothing but a desperate attempt to reinvent himself politically.
“The same man who once insulted opposition leaders and dismissed them as irrelevant is now seeking refuge in their midst. His hypocrisy knows no bounds.
“We call on all genuine members of the SDP to rise against this backdoor takeover. The SDP is not a retirement home for failed politicians or a playground for those who trample on democracy. We will resist any attempt to mortgage our party’s future for selfish political ambitions,” Bello concluded.
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Politics
2027: Tinubu's re-election move begins as Tompolo's camp pledges 10 million votes

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3 days agoon
June 13, 2025By
JohnA socio-political movement supporting President Bola Tinubu has declared its intent to mobilise 10 million votes for his re-election in 2027 through a nationwide grassroots campaign.
Speaking during a Democracy Day press briefing in Abuja, Sunday Adekanbi, protem national coordinator of the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement, announced the group’s mission to “sustain the momentum of progress” under the Tinubu administration.
“In just two years, President Tinubu has demonstrated unparalleled vision, courage, and resolve, positioning Nigeria as a global economic powerhouse and a beacon of democratic governance,” Adekanbi said.
The movement, which counts former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, as its grand patron, aims to garner support for Tinubu from the grassroots level.
According to Adekanbi, Tompolo will spearhead a nationwide tour that will engage citizens “ward by ward, street by street, and home by home.”
“His leadership will galvanise support across regions, uniting Nigerians behind a leader who has proven his capacity to deliver,” he added.
The campaign will focus on promoting President Tinubu’s reform agenda, countering misinformation, and highlighting the administration’s achievements under the Renewed Hope programme.
Adekanbi described the initiative as deeply rooted in community-level activism and pledged the movement would serve as a “robust support network” for Tinubu’s 2027 campaign.
“We vow to mobilise 10 million votes for his re-election in 2027, ensuring that his transformative vision resonates with every Nigerian.

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“We call on all Nigerians to join us in this movement to secure a brighter future under President Tinubu’s leadership,” he said.
The PBAT Door-2-Door Movement joins other early support blocs rallying ahead of the 2027 general elections, signalling growing political mobilisation as the president approaches the halfway point of his first term.
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Politics
'I am wiser now' — Bello El-Rufai apologises to Goodluck Jonathan for past criticism

Published
3 days agoon
June 13, 2025By
John
Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kaduna North, has publicly apologised to former President Goodluck Jonathan for his previous harsh criticism of the ex-leader.
The lawmaker, who is the son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, said his past stance was driven by ignorance and youthful exuberance.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Bello expressed regret over his earlier views and acknowledged that Nigeria experienced good governance under Jonathan’s administration.
“When I was naive or when I thought ego or gratification mattered, I used to be very active in criticising President Jonathan.
“I even forgot in my naivety, as many young people do, that we had governance then,” he said.
The legislator revealed that he had asked his father to convey his apology to the former president during a consultation visit.
“He said he was going to see President Jonathan, and I paused. I said, ‘Please when you see him, tell him I am very sorry, I am wiser now.’”
Bello’s remarks come years after his vocal opposition to Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general election, which brought Muhammadu Buhari to power.
His apology signals a shift in tone among some members of the political class who were once fiercely critical of the former president’s leadership.

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He went further to praise Jonathan’s democratic maturity, saying, “It takes a lot, particularly in Africa, to lose an election and leave. He did that.”
The apology has sparked online conversations, with many Nigerians commending the lawmaker for demonstrating humility and introspection.
As public discourse around governance deepens, Bello El-Rufai’s comments underscore a growing recognition of the need for political maturity and historical reflection in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
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Politics
Tinubu extends open ticket to Wike ahead of 2027 polls

Published
5 days agoon
June 11, 2025By
JohnPresident Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signalled a potential political realignment by inviting Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) whenever he is ready.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Arterial Road N16 and other infrastructure projects in Abuja’s Katampe District, Tinubu praised Wike’s contributions to governance and teased his signature political jingle.
“We have somebody—Nyesom Wike—he is not a member of my party (APC), not yet,” Tinubu quipped, prompting laughter from the audience that included Wike himself.
“But the day he changes his mind and registers with the progressives, we will welcome him. Because we will enjoy singing ‘as e dey pain dem, e dey sweet us’,” Tinubu added.
Wike, a high-profile member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been at the centre of intense political debate since his public support for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
Despite remaining a PDP member, Wike accepted a ministerial appointment from the APC-led administration in August 2023—a move that deepened divisions within the main opposition party.
PDP internal crisis
After losing the PDP’s presidential primary in 2022 and refusing to back the party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Wike has aligned himself increasingly with Tinubu.
Just last week, Wike declared his readiness to lead Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Rivers State.
“I am a key asset. I will lead President Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Rivers State,” Wike stated during a recent media chat.

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The PDP’s internal wranglings have intensified since its 2023 loss, with Wike emerging as both a controversial and influential figure.
On Monday, he reignited tensions by demanding the zoning of the PDP’s presidential ticket to the South for the 2027 elections—a move seen by analysts as positioning himself for greater leverage within or outside the party.
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