Bayo Onanuga, a media aide to President Bola Tinubu and one of the prominent spokespersons of the Presidency, has ridiculed former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over his recent expulsion from the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Onanuga taunted El-Rufai with a brief, sarcastic remark: “Internally Displaced Again!”—a jab that seemed to underscore the former governor’s apparent political isolation.
This mockery follows a dramatic announcement by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party, which declared El-Rufai expelled and barred from all party-related activities for the next 30 years.
The announcement was contained in a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ambassador Araba Aiyenigba.
According to the SDP, the decision came after an extensive internal investigation into El-Rufai’s alleged misrepresentation of his party membership, his backdoor political manoeuvres, and conduct deemed detrimental to the integrity of the party.
The NWC said El-Rufai never fulfilled the constitutional requirements for joining the party, particularly the mandatory registration at his ward level in Kaduna State. This, the party emphasized, is a foundational prerequisite for valid membership as stipulated by the SDP Constitution.
The party leadership further accused the former governor of undermining the internal cohesion of the SDP by engaging in unethical political behavior.
While El-Rufai was initially given the benefit of the doubt out of respect for his stature as a former governor and federal minister, deeper inquiries reportedly revealed a pattern of misrepresentation and questionable political dealings.
One of the most serious allegations leveled against El-Rufai was that he secretly supported the interests of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) while attempting to involve the SDP in an unauthorized political coalition.
The party described this as a clear breach of its ideological commitments and a violation of the Electoral Act, which grants political parties the autonomy to regulate their membership and internal affairs.
“Having confirmed that Nasir El-Rufai not only failed to register properly but also publicly aligned with the ADC and engaged in activities contrary to the objectives of the SDP, the National Working Committee has resolved to expel and excommunicate him,” the party’s statement read in part.
El-Rufai, a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), had on March 10 announced his resignation from the APC via a post on his verified Facebook page. In the post, he claimed to have submitted his resignation letter to his ward in Kaduna State and publicly declared that he had joined the Social Democratic Party.
Following this declaration, El-Rufai reportedly began mobilizing political allies and initiating talks aimed at building a robust opposition coalition capable of challenging the APC’s dominance in the 2027 general elections.
He attributed his departure from the APC to what he described as a growing disconnect between his personal values and the current direction of the party. El-Rufai openly criticized the APC leadership, alleging that the party had deviated from the progressive ideals upon which it was founded.
However, the SDP has now rejected his association with the party, stating unequivocally that El-Rufai neither joined through proper channels nor adhered to its core values and principles.
The NWC’s expulsion of El-Rufai effectively disqualifies him from any formal or informal engagement with the party for the next three decades, signaling a serious rebuke and a formal severance of ties.
This development adds another layer of complexity to the former governor’s political future, as he finds himself increasingly alienated from major political platforms.