Political Alliances in Peril: El-Rufai Faces Challenges in Persuading Crucial Politicians to Join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2027

The Political Woes of Ex-Gov El-Rufai as He Struggles to Gain Momentum with SDP

In a bid to shift his political landscape, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, parted ways with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in March 2025, citing differences in values and the party's direction. Lately, El-Rufai has found himself in choppy waters, as his recent move to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has failed to pick up steam in the North-West region.

Our news outlet recalls that El-Rufai announced his resignation from the APC, expressing frustration with the widening "misalignment between his values and the party's trajectory." With ambitions to create a formidable coalition of opposition leaders under one united democratic platform, he aimed to challenge the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

"Without prejudice to this decision, as a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a single, democratic platform to contest the APC in all elections between now and 2027, by the grace of God," El-Rufai stated during his declaration.

However, his ambitious plan seems to have hit a snag. Despite holding numerous strategic meetings, El-Rufai has yet to attract any significant North-Western political heavyweights to the SDP. The party remains absent in key states, such as Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara, where strong organizational structures are essential for making headway.

Our sources reveal that El-Rufai hasmade frantic attempts at courting key player, particularly sitting governors and members of parliament, in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and Kebbi –all to no avail. According to a source, "He reached out to governors, senators, and reps, but none showed any inclination to join forces. Not a single state assembly member either."

The situation appears equally challenging in Kebbi State, where El-Rufai's overtures towards Senators Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abdullahi, and Garba Maidoki were rebuffed. Not only were they uninterested, they ultimately switched to the APC instead. His efforts with the Nasarawa State Governor also ran into an impasse.

"All his attempts failed," a source shared. "People simply don't see the SDP as a viable alternative right now."

As it stands, the party is represented by only two lawmakers in the National Assembly: Senator Godiya Akwashiki from Nasarawa North and Hon. Abubakar Sarki Dahiru for the Nassarawa Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency.

El-Rufai had planned to revitalize the party's image and garner support ahead of the 2027 elections, but the prevailing sentiment in the North is that the SDP still carries echoes of President Tinubu, who won the 1992 Lagos West senatorial election on the same platform.

"This lingering association with Tinubu is fueling suspicions amongst politicians. It's a tough sell for El-Rufai*," another source explained.

Additionally, rumors circulate that El-Rufai's move to the SDP is not genuine but instead a maneuver aimed to fracture the opposition, or he remains a member of Tinubu's camp.

"People are suspicious. Trust is in short supply," a Kaduna-based political insider added.

Despite rising frustration, El-Rufai's political future remains uncertain as the most prominent figure he has managed to attract to the SDP is comedian Obinna Simon, also known as MC Tagwaye, popular for his impersonation of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Although popular in entertainment circles, MC Tagwaye's political clout is insignificant.

"Wooing a comedian is not the same as winning over political leaders. It showcases the gravity of the situation," another source highlighted.

El-Rufai's current circumstances largely stem from the alliance he forged in the birth of the APC in 2015. Once a close ally of Tinubu, he played a substantial role in solidifying northern support for Tinubu's 2023 campaign, despite the APC losing Kaduna to the PDP during his tenure as governor.

Their alliance eroded after Tinubu's victory when El-Rufai was denied a spot on the ministerial list due to a security report from the Department of State Services (DSS)—a move El-Rufai felt was insufficiently supported by Tinubu.

"That moment marked the beginning of El-Rufai's political isolation. He felt let down. He believed Tinubu didn't push hard enough to defend him," a source stated.

The Southern region also proves challenging for El-Rufai. He faced backlash in several Christian communities and civic organizations for his pro-Muslim-Muslim ticket statements during the 2023 election cycle, making his SDP message less appealing in the region.

With no clear allies on the horizon, El-Rufai navigates a lonely political journey, searching for a viable solution to revive the SDP's image and pursue his opposition ambitions.

Recent reports suggest that he met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, and was urged to reconsider returning to the PDP. However, no resolution was reached in the meeting, leaving him uncertain about his future political path.

Amidst this turmoil, the strategic significance of El-Rufai has diminished. A once-promising leap towards forming a new opposition powerhouse appears to have morphed into a challenging and unpredictable political journey for the former governor.

Despite his attempts to attract North-Western political heavyweights to the SDP, El-Rufai has yet to garner significant support, with governors, senators, and reps remaining uninterested.
The SDP, led by El-Rufai, is represented by only two lawmakers in the National Assembly: Senator Godiya Akwashiki and Hon. Abubakar Sarki Dahiru.
The party's association with Tinubu, who won the 1992 Lagos West senatorial election on the same platform, is causing suspicions among politicians, making it a tough sell for El-Rufai.
El-Rufai's only significant recruit to the SDP is comedian Obinna Simon, known as MC Tagwaye, who is popular in entertainment circles but lacks political clout.
El-Rufai's political future remains uncertain, as he faces backlash in the Southern region due to his pro-Muslim-Muslim ticket statements during the 2023 election cycle.
El-Rufai met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, urging him to reconsider returning to the PDP, but no resolution was reached in the meeting, leaving him uncertain about his future political path.
Recent reports suggest that El-Rufai's strategic significance has diminished, as his ambitious plan to form a new opposition powerhouse appears to have morphed into a challenging and unpredictable political journey for the former governor.
The prevailing sentiment in the North is that the SDP still carries echoes of President Tinubu, fueling suspicions among politicians, and the party's absence in key states like Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara is affecting its ability to make headway.