More high-profile politicians have concluded plans to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The National Chairman of the SDP, Shehu Musa Gabam, gave this hint on Monday in a chat with Trust TV while reacting to El-Rufai’s defection.

Gabam stated that El-Rufai’s move had triggered a wave of defections from Kaduna State, with more prominent figures from the ruling APC and other parties, as well as across backgrounds expected to follow suit.

While declining to reveal specific names, sources within the party suggest that former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola might also defect to the SDP.

El-Rufai had visited Aregbesola and a prominent cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare, in Lagos on Sunday. He had also met with former President Muhammadu Buhari and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar in recent days. These meetings have fuelled speculations that El-Rufai’s defection marks the beginning of broader political realignments.

However, Fayemi, in a statement yesterday, dismissed reports of his planned defection.

“My attention has been drawn to a story circulating on several online platforms regarding my defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC). As I have had cause to state in the past, I am a card-carrying foundation member of the APC, and this position has not changed,” he said.

He added, “While I have been at the vanguard of the demand for greater internal democracy and inclusion in the ruling party, I believe it is still not late for our party to change course and move towards greater inclusion and internal democracy.”

Meanwhile, Gabam reiterated that the ongoing defections to the SDP are part of a broader political shift aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring governance benefits reach the people.

Political observers have linked El-Rufai’s move to presidential ambitions, but Gabam insisted the SDP’s structure prioritises grassroots participation.

“The party’s philosophy is entrenched in grassroots democratic participation and aligns with the politics of endorsement. Every potential aspirant must go through the process from the grassroots level to prevent imposition,” he said.

He also dismissed suggestions of a merger with other parties, stating, “The SDP is not in alignment with the proponents of a merger of political parties. It is a recipe for chaos.”

Announcing his resignation from the APC in a statement on Monday titled “Onwards to the Future,” El-Rufai accused the party leadership of failing to address internal challenges.

“As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC. It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and those of the APC will align up to the time I choose to retire from politics.

“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party,” he said.

He continued: “On my part, I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party. Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish.

“Founders rightly feel attached towards institutions they helped create, but one must be pragmatic enough to admit when a divergence appears unbridgeable.

“I have diligently served the APC and made my contributions to its viability as a political platform but recognise that the party has since strayed and left me stuck in the vision of its well-meaning founding fathers and mothers.”

El-Rufai further stated: “Today, the 10th of March 2025, I have submitted a letter resigning my membership of the APC to my ward in Kaduna, effective immediately.

“Subsequent to this, I had concluded consultations with my mentors, colleagues, and loyalists alike about the future, and have decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and adopt it as the platform for our future political engagements and activities.”

He vowed to engage other opposition leaders to form a united front against the APC in upcoming elections, urging his supporters to join him in the SDP.

Ex-commissioners quit APC amid defection wave

Shortly after El-Rufai’s announcement, two of his former commissioners in Kaduna State—Hafsat Mohammed Baba, ex-commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, and Jafaru Sani, former commissioner for Education and Local Government Affairs—resigned from the APC.

Their resignation letters cited various reasons for leaving the party, but they have yet to indicate their next political move. However, sources speculate they will likely join El-Rufai in the SDP.

The APC was yet to react to El-Rufai’s defection and the reasons he cited as of the time of filing this report. Efforts to get a response from the party’s spokesman, Felix Morka, were unsuccessful.

However, Shehu Sani, in a reaction to the defection, said “leaving APC for SDP wouldn’t make any difference for someone with no political relevance again.”

He, however, said “one thing is sure, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu And Governor Uba Sani will be voted again” in 2027.

“Elrufai out of alleged fears of the unknown, officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP),” Sani said.

He also claimed that his return and those of other prominent politicians in the State such as Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi; Senator Danjuma Laah, Former Governor Ramalan Yero, and others to APC unsettled Elrufai.

Meanwhile, Prince Adewole Adebayo, the SDP’s presidential candidate in the last election, welcomed El-Rufai’s defection.

“With the hardworking and sagacious Malam joining our ranks; an avid worker for the people has been enlisted in our forces against poverty and insecurity.

“Now is the time for us to put our collective shoulders behind the efforts to fulfil Chapter 2 of the Constitution and rescue Nigerians from bad governance and underdevelopment to restore #HopeAgain 2027 to the suffering masses,” he said.

Similarly, SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ambassador Rufus Aiyenigba, said El-Rufai’s defection signals an influx of more high-profile politicians into the party.
Daily Trust

There is no justification for the gestapo and crude action of some military personnel who invaded the offices of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company as early as 7:40 am on Thursday, March 6, 2025.

This barbaric raid is condemnable, and further stands as a severe infringement on democratic rights and freedoms of law abiding Nigerians who are simply embarking on their daily pursuits. Even during the military regime, such invasions were unheard of. This action marks a new low in security operations in Nigeria and also serves as a dangerous precedent for the nation’s democracy.

It is sad to see terrified employees at Ikeja Electric offices in Lagos scampered to safety as the situation escalated, with many reportedly going into hiding to avoid confrontation with the armed and irate soldiers.

Doors and glass windows were shattered, some staff members whisked away against their wishes. This is totally unacceptable, reprehensible, preposterous and utterly denigrating. The purported disconnection of power supply to the Nigerian Air Force logistics base in Ikeja is a civil matter and there are ways to resolve this without resorting to this dangerous and precarious self-help.

Ikeja Electric is a leading electricity distribution company in Nigeria, and is known for taking significant step to improving its customer service by fast-tracking its response to subscribers’ complaints.

The Thursday scenario has raised concerns over the safety of power sector workers, with calls for authorities to intervene and prevent further attacks on company staff.

Whilst it must be strongly established that the Nigerian Armed Forces (NAF) consist of higly disciplined, patriotic, responsible and professional officers, it must also be put on record that a situation like this must never be treated with kid gloves and those responsible for this dastardly act should be accordingly sanctioned.

This is also a wake up call to the government of Nigeria and more importantly, the military authorities for them to quickly look into this embarrassing situation by allowing justice and good reasoning to reign supreme, while also putting into cognizance human dignity and pragmatic solutions in the nick of time. GOD BLESS NIGERIA-

Signed:
Emmanuel Ajibulu,
Activist/Online Publisher
veracitydesk.com

The Peoples Democratic Party State Working Committee in Abia State on Tuesday expelled the embattled PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara.

The chapter, in a statement jointly signed by Chairman Abraham Amah and Secretary Peter Nwaokonko, stated that the decision was made during an emergency meeting held after receiving the Disciplinary Committee’s report.

This comes as former Benue governor, Samuel Ortom, embattled PDP factional National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu and others again refused to appear before the Ikimi Disciplinary Panel.

According to the Abia State PDP chairman, the investigative committee thoroughly reviewed Wabara’s earlier suspension before deciding to expel him.

He explained that the expulsion was due to Wabara’s endorsement of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for a second term in office, which the PDP considered an act of disloyalty to the party.

As of the time of this report, Wabara had yet to issue any statement regarding his expulsion.

This is happening a few weeks after Wabara was suspended by the SWC for alleged anti-party activities

However, the National Working Committee nullified his suspension.

Despite Wabara challenging the suspension in court, the Abia chapter insisted on his expulsion from the party.

Following Wabara’s expulsion, the party asked the PDP leadership to replace him.

A statement issued by the Abia PDP read in part, “Senator Adolphus Wabara is hereby expelled from the Peoples Democratic Party. The Abia State PDP reaffirmed its commitment to upholding party discipline and ensuring that all members operate within the framework of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended).

‘’The party remains resolute in preserving unity, loyalty, and respect for party structures. No member, regardless of status, is above the party’s rules and regulations.’’

The party asked the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee to act swiftly by appointing an acting chairman for the PDP BoT ‘’in the interest of the party’s stability and in compliance with our party’s constitution.”

“In line with Article 57(3) and 59(1) of the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended), which stipulates that an expelled member cannot exercise any rights or privileges within the party, the Abia State Executive Committee hereby recommends the immediate appointment of an Acting BoT Chairman by the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of our great party,’’ it declared.

Meanwhile, the crisis within the PDP has further escalated with former Benue State governor, Ortom, Senator Anyanwu, and others failing to attend the National Disciplinary Committee led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi.

The committee held its session in Abuja on Tuesday.

Ortom was represented by his legal adviser, Clement Mue, while Anyanwu, in an interview with The PUNCH, disclosed that he had informed the NDC that the matter is currently before the Supreme Court, and addressing the issues related to his invitation would amount to prejudice.

On February 6, the NDC, led by Ikimi, issued a statement summoning Ortom, Anyanwu, and 10 other individuals to appear before the committee on February 12, 2025, at the Legacy House in Maitama, Abuja.

The proceedings of the NDC have been kept confidential, and the identities of the other 10 invitees remain undisclosed.

Since the 2023 presidential election, the PDP has been embroiled in internal conflicts, with members accusing others of undermining the party’s interests and calling for disciplinary measures.

In response, the PDP National Working Committee established a disciplinary committee on August 21 to allow members to file complaints, hear both sides, and make recommendations to the National Executive Committee.

However, nearly five months after its creation, the crisis has worsened, with both former National Youth Leader Sunday Ude-Okoye and Anyanwu claiming the position of National Secretary.

Despite Ude-Okoye receiving backing from the Board of Trustees, led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, and the Governors Forum, chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, the dispute remains unresolved.

Ortom, who raised legal concerns about the authenticity of the petitioners, Anyanwu, who cited medical reasons and the other 10 individuals did not attend the NDC meeting on February 12.

Despite receiving invitations from Ikimi’s committee, both Ortom and Anyanwu, along with the others, also failed to show up on Tuesday at the committee’s meeting at the Legacy House in Maitama.

The meeting, which was exclusively covered by The PUNCH, began at approximately 12:30 pm. In attendance were the Chairman of the NDC, the Secretary, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), and former Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina.

The leaders of the group behind the petition against Anyanwu, the PDP Young Generation Caucus, who were called into the closed-door session, called for the embattled Secretary’s resignation.

In an interview with The PUNCH, the group’s legal director, Alex Ter Adum, and President, Afolabi Adekanbi disclosed that they filed a petition against Anyanwu due to allegations that he had threatened the party with violence.

Adum stated that Anyanwu should have fully utilized the PDP’s internal conflict resolution processes before resorting to the court.

He noted, “Today, we appear before the National Disciplinary Committee of the party. Our petition is specifically against the former National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

“Our petition is that Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s actions, immediately after the resolution of the PDP Governor’s Forum meeting of January 31, 2025, in Asaba, Delta State, where he, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, wrote letters to external bodies, including the police, the DSS, and other threatening to bring violence to the PDP Governor’s Forum, the BOT, the National Executive Committee members of the party, and the National Working Committee and to take over the PDP Secretariat.

“This is a clear violation of Article 58, Sub-Article H of the PDP Constitution, which states that no member of the party shall do anything likely to bring the party into disrepute.

“Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who was then the National Secretary of the party and an officer of the NWC and NEC of the party, ought to have exhausted all internal channels of dispute resolution if he was aggrieved by the decision of the PDP Governor’s Forum and the PDP Board of Trustees.

“He had no right, as the chief protector of the constitution of the party, to act in flagrant violation of a very substantive provision of the constitution. His actions have brought the party into disrepute and continue to do so, contesting every decision made by all the relevant organs of the party and its leaders up to this moment.”

He expressed hope that the NDC would recommend Anyanwu’s suspension if he was unable to defend the allegations.

Adum added, “We feel that he should come and face the National Disciplinary Committee to defend himself against these allegations.

“But if he is unable to, and the committee finds merit in our petition, which we adopted this afternoon, then Senator Anyanwu should be suspended from the party, expelled from the party, and denied all privileges that come with his membership.

“We are praying and hoping that the National Disciplinary Committee will do what is right and recommend this to the National Executive Committee of the party so that we can restore peace to our party.”

The president of the group explained that they believed the current problems within the party were orchestrated by some individuals, including Anyanwu.

Adekanbi argued, “He claimed to be in defiance of the appeal court judgments. So, he is going to the Supreme Court on that because the Appeal Court has declared Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary.

“There are some activities that went wrong with him. He has written to the DSS, police, and others, trying to cause disturbances within the party.

“So, just take it clearly that nobody is above the party; if there are issues in the party, they have to remain within the party. That’s why we have a committee that can take care of those issues. But for someone to believe they are above the party, writing to the DSS, writing to the police, and whatever, that means the party is no longer supreme.

‘’We know we have a lot of petitions, whatever case in courts, and they want disaster with the National Secretariat. That’s why the NWC, the governors, and others have to rely on that judgment. Who are you not to rely on that?

“So, we want the NDC to make a judgment because once you violate that section of our constitution, you have to be suspended. That’s it. So, we ask the panel to suspend him from the party.”

In his defence, Anyanwu stated that he had notified the committee of his intention to appear before it but emphasized that the matter is currently before the Supreme Court.

The factional national secretary, in an interview with The PUNCH, declared that since the issue is under Supreme Court review, no one can make a decision on it, and discussing is sub judice.

“I did not attend (the NDC session) because of the pending litigation. I wrote a letter to the committee informing them that the matter surrounding my office is before the Supreme Court.

“So, it would amount to sub judice for me to go before them and for them to start talking about a matter before the Supreme Court. As it is now, nobody can do anything until the court decides,” he submitted.

On his part, Ortom’s lawyer asserted that the NDC has yet to apologise to the former Benue governor for publicly announcing its petition in the media without formally inviting him.

Mue further revealed that they were shown the acknowledged copy of the petition they had sent earlier, adding that the absence of the petitioners had rendered their petition meaningless.

The counsel stated, “I came here regarding the petition written against the former governor of Benue State, His Excellency Samuel Ortom, and 10 other members of the PDP in Benue State.

“ PDP is our party. Though they didn’t write an apology as Ortom requested, but eventually, they showed us a copy of the first petition and the letter they wrote. That’s why we’re here. And when we came, regrettably, those who wrote the petition are not here to defend it.

“So, it’s like that petition is non-existent, and it’s dead on arrival because nobody came forward to admit they are the author of the petition. I think it’s just a matter of name-dropping in the nature of politics we have found ourselves in.

“I have advised them to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution and other extant laws governing this type of proceedings.”

When reached for comment, Ortom’s media aide, Nathaniel Ikyur, explained that the former governor did not attend the session because the procedures being followed by the NDC were legally flawed.

He said the ex-governor had also faulted the composition of the committee.

“The former governor cannot just jump into a process. So, it’s a legal matter, and we’re there to ask questions and ensure that the NDC is operating within the legal framework.

“He was not there because he travelled, and also because the composition of the NDC did not align with the PDP 2017 Constitution, as amended.”

A member of the committee informed The PUNCH that the Ikimi panel requested additional evidence from the anti-Anyanwu petitioners.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid victimization, the insider further revealed that some NDC members believed that the continued absence of those who complained against Ortom made their petition invalid.

‘’While questioning those who petitioned Anyanwu, the NDC observed that the evidence wasn’t convincing enough and demanded that the petitioners provide more.

“As for Ortom and the 10 others, the petitioners failed to show up for the second time. The committee members are concerned that if this continues, their petition may be dismissed. Therefore, the committee has adjourned again, I believe, till April 4 to deliberate further.”

The chairman of the committee refused to comment when approached by our correspondent.

Credit: PUNCH