The Social Democratic Party (SDP), Kaduna State chapter, has alleged that it has no record of the membership of Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

The Assistant National Secretary, NorthWest of SDP, Alhaji Idris Inuwa, disclosed this during a press conference in Kaduna on Friday.

Inuwa also rejected the purported dissolution of the State Working Committee of the SDP, saying some individuals were working round the clock to hijack the party.

He said, “The Kaduna State Executive Committee is the legitimate outcome of a duly conducted state congress, reflecting the will of the party members and adhering strictly to the party’s constitutional provisions.

“This body holds a four-year mandate that remains valid, binding and legally recognized throughout its tenure.

“Any attempt to arbitrarily dissolve this duly constituted leadership structure not only violates the party’s constitution but also undermines the fundamental principles of due process, fairness, and internal democracy.

“The SDP constitution states very clearly the process and procedure to follow in dissolving a State Exco, which includes initiating an investigation, setting up committee, providing fair hearing in a transparent manner before a decision is taken.

“None of this way done-only the resort to the illegal unilateral letter of dissolution.

“Such an action is therefore tantamount to an unlawful interference in the party’s governance and an affront to the collective decision of it’s members.

“Consequently, the purported establishment of a caretaker committee under a single individual lacks any legal basis, rendering it null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

“While we recognize the growing interest of individuals and groups in joining the SDP, we emphasize that there are well-defined guidelines and constitutional provisions governing membership admission. The State Exco remains open and welcoming to all prospective members who adhere to these established procedures.”

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido has called on opposition leaders in Nigeria to adopt a strategic and focused approach in challenging President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He urged them to set aside sentiment, emotion, and personal grievances in their political struggle.

Lamido made the remarks during an annual Ramadan breakfast with leaders and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from all 27 local government areas of Jigawa State.

The event which held at his residence in Bamaina, Birninkudu Local Government Area, provided a platform for discussing the country’s political landscape.

Expressing concern over worsening economic situation, Lamido accused the APC government of losing focus and failing to address citizens’ growing hardship. He warned that politicians must remain focused and avoid personal prejudices if they hope to defeat Tinubu. According to him, success in the opposition’s struggle will not come from fighting state institutions out of personal disappointment but from prioritizing the collective national interest.

The former governor also extended an olive branch to former PDP members who had defected to the APC, urging them to return to their original party. He said many of them had faced persecution and mistreatment in their new political home and should reconsider their decision. He argued that returning to the PDP would not be shameful, as it was the party that had originally provided them with the platform to excel in Nigerian politics.

Lamido specifically mentioned former governors and political leaders such as Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Aliyu Wamakko, urging them to reunite with the PDP and work together to “liberate Nigeria from the APC atrocity.”

He dismissed the idea that alternative parties like the Social Democratic Party (SDP) or the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) could successfully challenge Tinubu, insisting that only the PDP had the strength and structure to mount a formidable opposition.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kano State has described the recent entry of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, and retired Major Hamza Al-Mustapha into the party as a major boost to its strength and future prospects.

Speaking at a press conference in Kano on Friday, the SDP Chairman in the state, Alhaji Ali Shettima, expressed optimism that the development would enhance the party’s structure and appeal ahead of future elections.

“We are excited to welcome former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and retired Major Hamza Al-Mustapha into our great party, the SDP,” Shettima stated.

“We regard their entry as a significant boost to our party’s membership as we are making efforts to strengthen its structure and prepare for future elections.”

He dismissed concerns that the party had been weakened by the recent defection of its 2023 governorship candidate, Bala Gwagwarwa, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The party remains strong and united, despite Gwagwarwa’s exit,” Shettima said.

“His claims that he joined the APC alongside the entire structure of the party are absolutely untrue.”

He further emphasized that SDP executives at all levels remain loyal to the party, rejecting speculations that local government and ward chairmen had followed Gwagwarwa to the APC.

“As you have seen, our party executives, including the Director-General of Gwagwarwa’s campaign, are still with us. The claims that they all left with him are false. He left alone,” Shettima insisted.

The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, has dismissed the coalition formed by Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections, calling it “dead on arrival.”

In a statement released in Kano, Ata argued that Tinubu has successfully implemented economic and political reforms since taking office in 2023, boosting public confidence in his administration.

He criticized Atiku as a “serial contester,” El-Rufai as a “desperate power seeker,” and Obi as a politician who fuels ethnic and religious divisions.

The minister claimed that Tinubu’s leadership has stabilized the country.

The country has moved past the era of trial-and-error governance, rejecting politicians who lack clear ideology and rely on mere sentiments to garner support,”

He cited the intervention in Rivers State political crisis as evidence of his governance abilities.

Ata concluded that the opposition coalition lacks credibility and public support, labeling its members as “political jobbers” seeking relevance.

The 2023 presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, along with former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, have announced the formation of a coalition of opposition leaders to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The former Vice President confirmed this while responding to a question on behalf of the opposition leaders, during a press conference on Thursday at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

There have been increasing discussions recently on whether opposition parties should form a coalition to defeat President Bola Tinubu.

Atiku has repeatedly stressed the importance of unity among opposition parties.

In his latest remarks on March 8, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate revealed that he was working to unite opposition parties in a coalition to remove the All Progressives Congress from power.

After El-Rufai’s move from the APC to the SDP on March 10, conversations among opposition parties and leaders gained significant traction.

Atiku, accompanied by opposition leaders on Thursday, declared that the gathering marked the beginning of the coalition.

He stated, “Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027.”

The former Governor of Anambra State, Obi, also supported Atiku’s statement, emphasising that the coalition aimed at the liberation of the Nigerian people.

Obi, represented by Yunusa Tanko, the Interim National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, stated that Nigerians would see more of the coalition addressing governance issues.

In an exclusive interview with The TheNigerian, he stated “Yes, His Excellency Peter Obi and former Vice President are together on this. The idea of plans for a dialogue among the opposition is very important. It is established that we need to work together as a team; there’s no doubt about it, even the former Anambra State Governor himself has said it before.

“But the only thing he emphasised is that it must be based on a programme to emancipate the Nigerian people, and that is exactly what we have just started.

“Our democracy has been attacked morally, with indignity and a level of disdain. That was exactly what was shown in that particular pronouncement against the Rivers State government and we will not stand as democrats to continue witnessing such a bizarre show of power and an unacceptable level of disdain against the Nigerian people.

“So, Nigerians should expect to see this coalition, especially when it comes to the issues that affect the lives of the Nigerian people—issues like power supply, security, and the level of disdain with which our educational systems are moving. All of this will be issue-based.”

When questioned about the party, he responded, “It will be announced.”

Other opposition leaders present at the press conference were former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ameh, and the Convener of The Alternative, Segun Showunmi, among others.

Among those involved in the coalition, but whose apologies for absence were noted, are leaders from the ruling APC, including former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and the immediate past National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu.

In an exclusive interview with The TheNigerian, Ameh stated that talks about the coalition had intensified.

He disclosed that the coalition effort involved politicians from various opposition parties.

He, however, said no decision had yet been made regarding the name or platform on which the coalition would be based.

He stated “As the former Vice President mentioned, the press conference signals the birth of the coalition. The discussions have intensified, and we will continue to engage with political leaders and parties.

“As of now, we have not yet decided on the name or platform for the coalition. However, discussions are ongoing regarding both. It will be announced once we reach a conclusion and agreement.”

The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, urged party leaders to remain flexible as the coalition discussions take centre stage.

In an interview with The TheNigerian, Osadolor stated that it was in the best interest of both the PDP and Nigeria as a whole to ensure the APC was removed from power in 2027.

He stated “Well, my advice to the leaders of the PDP is that they should not be too static or too rigid. They should also learn to be flexible and accommodating because they are the big brother of all the other opposition parties in this country.

“Therefore, they should be able to shift some ground to accommodate and make the coalition a major talking point.

“It is in the best interest of PDP and all Nigerians that this government is kicked into the dustbin of history.”

APC  dismisses coalition

The APC has, however, dismissed the coalition, claiming that Atiku was simply speculating.

The APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, mocked Atiku for being a frequent contestant and a repeated loser, stating that the ruling party would not lose sleep over them.

In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, Ibrahim advised the former Vice President to stop name-dropping and allow those involved in the coalition to speak for themselves.

He stated “Not at all, we won’t lose sleep over it. You see, there is a difference between rhetoric and action. There is a difference between ambition and realisation.

“There is a difference between reality and dream. When you come out to make speculations and name-drop in the name of collusion, you are more or less making speculations.

“Atiku should allow the actors involved to make the pronouncements themselves, rather than him mentioning their names, which they may or may not necessarily agree with.

“So, I think for Atiku, having been a serial contestant and a serial loser, he ought to know the differences that exist in these kinds of permutations.

“As the ruling party, the APC is not bothered in the slightest, because all the people mentioned are those who have gone to the polls with the APC and lost.”

Ibrahim further stated that the party had continued to increase in membership and its tentacles of leadership growing.

“The APC, from the period it beats them to death, is not losing its membership, but increasing its membership, and its tentacles of leadership are increasingly growing.

“The people will continue to realise good dividends of democracy from the APC government, such that they will not regret voting for the party, nor will they think of giving up,” he added.

Ganduje backs Tinubu

The National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, said no political alliance or arrangement would prevent Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

In a statement released on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, Oliver Okpala, Ganduje said his support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 was unwavering and solid as the rock of Gibraltar.

The statement stated, “Dr Ganduje does not have any fear of the re-election of President Tinubu in 2027.

“Tinubu will surely emerge victorious because of his untrammelled performance since he assumed office as President of Nigeria.

“Forget the recent political gatherings and rantings from some politicians who presently do not have any identifiable political base.

“Their gathering from the Labour Party, PDP, SDP and others are people with different political ideologies and selfish political interests that can never agree on any issue politically.

“The gathering is an assemblage of people with divergent political interests. No amount of political arrangement or gang-up can stop the good people of Nigeria from re-electing Tinubu as President in 2027.”

‘Tinubu remains focused’

The Presidency has restated Tinubu’s commitment to good governance to build a prosperous country.

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, in “My message to the coalition of Tinubu haters,” posted on his X handle, said “President Tinubu is focused on governance to build a prosperous country. He is on the way to achieving this. Two months to his midterm, he has many solid achievements to showcase. Intractable problems are being tackled headlong.

“He cannot be distracted by the so-called coalition of politicians. They are not politicians after the public good. It’s all about their self-interest.

“They are disgruntled. They are a frustrated lot. The leaders are sore losers. The coalition is an amalgam of Tinubu haters. Their agenda is to stop Tinubu.”

Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has taken a swipe at ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over his comments condemning the emergency rule declared in Rivers State.

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Omokri accused El-Rufai of inciting Nigerians against the federal government, while failing to persuade his own son, Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, to challenge the emergency declaration in the legislature.

Omokri mocked the former governor, suggesting that while he sought to mobilize public sentiment online, he had shielded his own family from direct involvement in the issue.

“He cannot get his son to do his dirty work, so it is you here on social media that he has come to incite, because your life and future do not mean as much to him as his son’s life and future,” Omokri wrote.

The statement comes amid heightened tensions over the Rivers crisis, with opposing political factions debating the legality and necessity of the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other opposition leaders as “roving opposition opportunists.”

The ruling party accused the opposition figures of standing idly by and failing to take any action to help defuse the crisis in Rivers State, which had posed a clear and present threat to peace, the safety of lives, and national assets.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, criticised the opposition figures for what he described as their self-serving approach.

He stated: “We urge Nigerians to ignore roving opposition opportunists seeking to exploit the situation in Rivers State to escalate tension in the country.

“These opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, stood idly by and did nothing to help defuse the crisis, which had become a clear and present threat to peace, the safety of lives, and national assets in Rivers State.

“Today, these self-serving individuals did what they do best – issued a lengthy, convoluted, and utterly meaningless statement intended to get their names in the headlines and stir up tension.”

The ruling party, however, commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for swiftly approving President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State, as constitutionally stipulated.

Morka stated that the 10th Assembly had demonstrated patriotism by prioritising the peace and security of the people of Rivers State and uniting in the national interest.

He added: “In this regard, we particularly applaud the opposition caucus for rising above partisanship in support of the proclamation.”

Morka emphasised that the President remained committed to ensuring peace, maintaining law and order, and protecting critical national assets in Rivers State. He further noted that Tinubu was determined to restore constitutional order, ensuring that all three arms of government – executive, legislature, and judiciary – coexist and perform their constitutionally assigned functions for the well-being and good governance of Rivers State.

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has reaffirmed that elected officials, including governors and legislators, cannot be removed from office through a declaration of a state of emergency.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, El-Rufai cited a 2006 Supreme Court judgment, which ruled that Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution does not permit the removal of elected officials during an emergency.

“It is true that in those cases, the governors were suspended. These suspensions were challenged in court, and in 2006, the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave a judgment clearly stating that under no circumstances can the emergency provision in Section 305 be used to remove any elected official. That is the law,” El-Rufai stated.

He emphasized that unless a constitutional amendment or legislation explicitly changes this ruling, no authority whether federal or state has the power to remove a sitting governor outside due legal process.

The only lawful means of removing a governor, he stressed, is through impeachment by the state legislature.

El-Rufai’s remarks came amid speculations and debates surrounding the implications of a state of emergency on elected leadership.

His statement serves as a reminder that constitutional provisions must be upheld in handling political crises.

With no amendments altering the 2006 Supreme Court judgment, the former governor’s statement reinforces the legal precedent that remains binding in Nigeria’s democratic system.

According to report President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers.

The President also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy for 6-months.

The Kogi State Chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has refuted claims that former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is now leading the party.

In a statement by Publicity Secretary Isaiah Davies Ijele, the party emphasized that it remains united under National Chairman, Shehu Gabam and is committed to its goals for the 2027 elections.

The SDP acknowledged El-Rufai as a respected member contributing to the party’s efforts.

He said, “The SDP remains united under the leadership of our esteemed National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, and we are committed to working together to achieve our shared goal of rescuing Nigeria in the 2027 elections.”

The SDP urged the public to disregard the misleading rumors, attributing it to opposition parties who are concerned about the SDP’s growing popularity.