The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has issued a strong warning to Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, condemning the alleged persecution of its members, including former Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
This marks a significant shift for the SDP, which has long been regarded as a smaller political entity, but is now gaining momentum with high-profile defectors, including el-Rufai and his appointees.
On Friday, the party issued a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Ambassador Rufus Aiyenigba, accusing Governor Sani of targeting members who defected from his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). The statement reveals the SDP’s growing influence, as it engages in coalition talks with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party.
The statement highlights growing concerns about the mistreatment of SDP members, claiming that Governor Sani and the APC are using intimidation tactics to deter defections. The party pointed out that recent defections, including that of el-Rufai, have sparked fears among the ruling APC, which allegedly plans to use its political power to fabricate charges against SDP leaders.
The SDP claims that the government is preparing to file criminal charges against el-Rufai, both in Abuja and Kaduna, with intentions to prevent him from leaving the country. In Kaduna, the party also accused the state government of targeting opposition figures, including the abduction of one of its leaders, Ja’afaru Sani. The SDP claims he was taken by a special police unit and remanded in prison on charges of money laundering—an accusation the party contends is politically motivated.
The statement draws parallels with previous incidents, such as the 2024 detention of Bashir Saidu, another SDP leader, under similar charges. The party argues that these actions represent an undemocratic strategy to stifle opposition voices and undermine the democratic process.
In the statement, the SDP criticized these tactics as a sign of a “tyrannical regime” rather than a democratic government. It stressed that true democratic progress relies on healthy political competition and dialogue, not the repression of opposing viewpoints.
The party called on Nigerians to oppose these methods of political suppression, advocating for a democratic process where political differences are settled through debate and governance rather than oppression. The SDP concluded by highlighting that despite facing similar persecution in the past, leaders like Donald Trump in the U.S. had prevailed, stressing that such victimization only strengthens the party’s resolve and public standing.
