LunagisthubPower Play: El-Rufai, Malami, and Al-Mustapha’s Bid to Transform the SDP
A dramatic power struggle is unfolding within the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, alongside his allies Abubakar Malami and Hamza Al-Mustapha, seek to overhaul the party’s structure and identity. According to sources, El-Rufai and his associates aim to change the party’s name, logo, and constitution, distancing themselves from the party’s socialist ideology and its historical connection to Moshood Abiola (MKO), the winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election .
This move has sparked internal tensions within the SDP, with party loyalists resisting what they see as an attempt to erase the party’s ideological roots and historical significance. The SDP’s connection to Abiola’s legacy is particularly sensitive, given the controversy surrounding the annulled election and Abiola’s subsequent imprisonment.
El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP has also raised eyebrows, as he has yet to officially join the party through the proper channels. Instead, he submitted his resignation letter from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP national secretariat and declared his membership. This has led to accusations that El-Rufai is attempting to hijack the party without following due process.
The involvement of Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to General Sani Abacha, has also raised concerns due to his alleged role in the assassination of Abiola’s wife, Kudirat, and other human rights abuses during the Abacha regime.
As the SDP navigates this internal power struggle, it remains to be seen whether El-Rufai and his allies will succeed in transforming the party in their image. One thing is certain, however: the outcome will have significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape.
Lunagisthub
