“I Can’t Remain In The Same Party With El-Rufai”: Senator Wadada Quits SDP 

Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, representing Nasarawa West in the Nigerian Senate, has announced his decision to quit the Social Democratic Party (SDP), citing differences with certain individuals who have recently joined the party.

In an exclusive interview with newsmen in Keffi yesterday, Senator Wadada, specifically named Malam Nasir El-Rufai, a former Governor of Kaduna State, was a major reason for his decision. 

He stated that although El-Rufai is his elder brother, he can not remain in the same party with someone whose political principles he does not respect.

“Even though Malam El-Rufai is my elder brother, I don’t think I can stay with him in the SDP because he is not a principled politician,” Senator Wadada said.

He criticized El-Rufai’s political shift, noting that El-Rufai was once a staunch advocate for power rotation to the South and played a critical role in the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, both as the APC flagbearer and ultimately the President. However, Wadada expressed disappointment that El-Rufai abandoned the APC for the SDP, not for any other reason than his inability to secure a ministerial position.

“What changed in President Tinubu between the time El-Rufai supported him and now that he has defected to the SDP,” he questioned the rationale behind El-Rufai’s move.

He described the defection as driven by selfish interests, emphasizing that he cannot work with individuals who place personal ambition above the collective interest.

The Lawmaker contrasted El-Rufai’s behaviour with that of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, whom he described as a consistent and principled politician. 

Wadada recalled how Senator Adamu, prior to the 2023 APC primaries, supported Senator Ahmad Lawan as the party’s presidential candidate. Despite Lawan’s loss to Bola Tinubu, Adamu remained loyal to the APC and stood by his decision without defecting—an action Wadada hailed as a mark of integrity.

Commenting on the state of the nation, Senator Wadada acknowledged the economic challenges brought on by the removal of fuel subsidies. However, he expressed optimism, noting that governments at all levels are making efforts to improve citizens’ welfare.

He emphasized that under the subsidy regime, only a few individuals benefited. Now, following its removal, the funds are being allocated directly to state governments for development projects. He commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for effectively utilizing the subsidy savings for the development of Nasarawa State.

“In Nasarawa State, the impact of the oil subsidy funds is visible everywhere—even to the most gullible and the blind,” he asserted.