Just days after the Social Democratic Party (SDP) slammed a 30-year membership ban on former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, eight of his loyalists have been arraigned and remanded in prison for alleged forceful break-in at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The suspects; Mr. Ambo Ekpenyong, Humphrey Onwukaeze, Mr. Eluwa Ifeanyi Henry, Chief Solsuema Osaro, Mr. Nurudeen Bissallah, Dogara Abubakar, Comrade Adamu Abubakar Modibbo, and Judith Israel Shuaibu; were arrested by FCT Police and charged in Karu and Kuje Magistrate Courts. They were ordered remanded in Keffi, Kuje, and Suleja Prisons pending further hearing.
The July 28 incident involved the theft of sensitive documents, stamps, payment vouchers, and other administrative materials from the party’s headquarters. Items recovered were presented as evidence in court.
It would be recalled that the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) has earlier confirmed El-Rufai’s expulsion over false claims of party membership, forgery, impersonation, and attempts to destabilise the party. The NWC noted that El-Rufai never registered properly with his ward in Kaduna State and had sought to manipulate party structures to suit a personal political agenda.
Citing Articles 19.1, 19.3(i), and 19.5 of the SDP Constitution (2022 as amended), the NWC imposed a 30-year ban on El-Rufai from all party-related activities, effective immediately. INEC and other institutions have been duly notified of his ineligibility.
The party urged members and the public to disregard any claims by El-Rufai regarding SDP membership or representation.
