SDP, ADC Dismiss El-Rufai’s Merger Claim in Kaduna, Reaffirm Party Independence
The political atmosphere in Kaduna was thrown into controversy at the weekend after former governor Nasir El-Rufai announced that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had merged with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state a claim swiftly denied by both parties.
El-Rufai, speaking at a gathering of political stakeholders, hailed what he described as a “unity spirit,” saying the alignment would strengthen the opposition and give voters a stronger platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
A statement attributed to one Darius Kurah, who introduced himself as “coalition publicity secretary,” outlined plans to revalidate membership registers and harmonise structures under the ADC banner.
But the declaration immediately drew sharp pushback. The ADC distanced itself from the claim, describing it as “false, baseless and unknown to the party’s leadership.”
The party insisted that it operates strictly under constitutional provisions and had held no meeting to absorb the SDP. ADC leaders further disowned Kurah, branding him an impostor with no mandate to speak for the party.
The SDP’s Kaduna chapter was equally emphatic. In a statement signed by its chairman, Adamu Idris, the party dismissed El-Rufai’s remarks as “spurious and misleading.” Idris maintained that SDP structures remain intact across the state and warned against attempts to sow division among its members.
“The Social Democratic Party has not at any time merged with the ADC in Kaduna or elsewhere in Nigeria. Our mandate is clear: to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative rooted in justice, inclusivity and good governance,” the statement read.
Idris went further to accuse El-Rufai of seeking political relevance through misrepresentation, describing him as a “non-democrat and self-serving opportunist.”
He argued that the former governor’s involvement in the party’s affairs had once sparked unrest, but noted that calm was restored once he stepped aside.
The conflicting narratives highlight the fluid nature of Kaduna’s political landscape, where parties are scrambling to reposition ahead of the next general elections. El-Rufai, who in recent by-elections openly campaigned for both ADC and SDP candidates, has increasingly projected himself as a coalition-builder. Yet, his latest comments appear to have deepened suspicion rather than strengthened opposition ranks.
Analysts note that while alliances are often touted as a path to electoral success, smaller parties remain cautious about subsuming their identities into larger blocs. For now, both the SDP and ADC have drawn a clear line: they remain separate, even as speculation swirls about potential realignments before 2027.
