El-Rufai: SDP Not Interested In Merger, High profile Politicians
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has clarified that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is not negotiating any merger or coalition with smaller political parties, emphasizing instead its focus on mobilizing ordinary Nigerians.
Speaking to journalists in Kano during a courtesy visit to the reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, El-Rufai said the SDP’s mission is to build grassroots support, not chase political heavyweights or governors. He stressed that the party is registering Nigerians dissatisfied with the current administration rather than courting high-profile politicians.
“The SDP is not about big names or ex-governors. We want to register three million members in Kano. If we achieve that, it won’t matter if the state governor joins or not. That’s how democracy should work,” he said.
El-Rufai, a key figure in the 2013 APC merger, said his involvement with the SDP has energized the party. He dismissed the influence of serving governors in electoral outcomes, pointing out that each governor has only one vote, like every other citizen.
“People give too much weight to defections. A governor defecting from one party to another doesn’t mean much. It’s the people who decide elections. Even President Tinubu lost Lagos despite having a sitting governor. I lost Kaduna in the last presidential election, despite being governor. The voters hold the power, not the political elite,” he added.
He noted that Kano holds strategic electoral importance due to its high voter turnout and pledged to help strengthen the party’s structure in the state.
“Kano may not have the most registered voters, but it has the highest voter participation. Lagos has more registered voters, but they don’t vote. Kano does. That’s why any serious party must pay close attention to Kano,” he explained.
El-Rufai affirmed his commitment to helping the SDP grow nationwide and said conversations are ongoing with other political groups interested in joining the movement.
