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 Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, representing Nasarawa West, has openly criticized former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of falling short of the core values that define genuine political leadership.
Speaking from his country home in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Wadada made it clear that he could not share the same political platform with El-Rufai.
Wadada, who himself was once a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), won his senatorial seat running on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform.
However, despite both men now being associated with the SDP, Wadada announced his intention to leave the party because of El-Rufai’s conduct. “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,” he stated.
The senator strongly criticized El-Rufai for prioritizing personal ambition over the collective interest of the party and the nation. He contended that El-Rufai’s decision to abandon the APC—a party he helped establish—was motivated solely by his failure 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?” Wadada questioned, challenging the sincerity of El-Rufai’s defection.
El-Rufai left the APC for the SDP in March 2025, citing a growing divergence between his values and the APC’s current direction as his main reason. However, Wadada’s remarks suggest he views the move as driven by self-interest rather than principle.
In contrast, Wadada held up Senator Abdullahi Adamu as an example of political integrity and loyalty. He recalled how, before the 2023 APC primaries, Senator Adamu supported Senator Ahmad Lawan as the party’s presidential candidate.
Despite Lawan’s eventual loss to Bola Tinubu, Adamu remained steadfastly loyal to the APC, refusing to defect. Wadada praised this loyalty as a testament to Adamu’s consistency and principled stance in politics.
On a broader national note, Senator Wadada acknowledged the economic difficulties posed by the removal of the fuel subsidy but emphasized that governments at all levels are striving to improve the welfare of citizens.
He particularly commended Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State for effectively using the savings from the subsidy removal to drive developmental projects in the state.
Through these statements, Senator Wadada Aliyu not only expressed his political convictions but also highlighted his vision for leadership grounded in principle, loyalty, and service to the people.