Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has outrightly rejected Nasir El-Rufai’s invitation to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), calling it an insult to his political legacy.
Lamido, a staunch member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), made it clear that he has no intention of abandoning the party that, according to him, created political figures like El-Rufai. His refusal to join SDP exposes deeper rifts within Nigeria’s opposition politics and raises questions about El-Rufai’s political ambitions.
“PDP Made You, Now You Want to Destroy It?” – Lamido Fires Back
Lamido did not mince words in his response to El-Rufai’s public call for key opposition figures to defect to the SDP. He reminded El-Rufai that it was the PDP that gave him political relevance, having appointed him as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“The party we built, the PDP, gave birth to people like El-Rufai. Now he wants to run away from his own past and expects us to follow him? That is an insult,” Lamido declared.
He accused El-Rufai of opportunism, suggesting that the former Kaduna governor’s sudden move to SDP is a desperate attempt to remain politically relevant after being sidelined in the APC.
El-Rufai’s SDP Defection: Masterstroke or Political Miscalculation?
El-Rufai’s dramatic exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sent shockwaves through the political establishment. His claim that APC is now a party of personal interest and corruption has fueled speculation that he is positioning himself as a major opposition figure for the 2027 elections.
However, many, including Lamido, see El-Rufai’s move as a self-serving strategy rather than a genuine fight for political reform.
“If I was going to leave the PDP, I would have done so in 2014 when the APC was formed. But I refused because I believe in principles, not personal gain,” Lamido stated.
A Fractured Opposition: Will SDP Replace PDP?
With the PDP weakened by internal conflicts and key figures leaving for alternative platforms, El-Rufai’s push for SDP as a new opposition force could pose a major challenge. But Lamido is not buying into the hype, asserting that PDP remains the only true opposition party capable of challenging the APC in 2027.
Political analysts, however, argue that the PDP’s continuous loss of influence and high-profile defections could render it obsolete, making SDP a potential new vehicle for opposition politics in Nigeria.
The big question remains: Is El-Rufai the right person to lead a new opposition movement, or is he simply shifting alliances for his own benefit?
For now, Lamido’s rejection of his offer signals that not everyone is convinced by El-Rufai’s sudden political reinvention. The battle for Nigeria’s opposition leadership has only just begun.
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