Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has dismissed Nasir El-Rufai’s invitation to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), calling it an insult and questioning El-Rufai’s motives [1).
Lamido, a prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, responded to El-Rufai’s call in a BBC Hausa interview on Sunday, March 16, 2025. El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP, had invited key opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, to join him in the SDP.
Lamido emphasized that the PDP laid the foundation for El-Rufai’s political career, saying, “The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not enough to make us leave the PDP.”
He also criticized El-Rufai’s leadership style, stating that effective leadership requires patience, vision, and a commitment to the welfare of the people. Lamido questioned El-Rufai’s motive for dumping the APC for the SDP, suggesting that it may be driven by personal ambition rather than a desire to serve the country.
Lamido reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, saying that the party has not done anything to warrant his defection. He also advised El-Rufai to prioritize patriotism over personal grievances, saying, “What should be done is to put patriotism first, instead of showing anger towards someone.”
The PDP has been working to rebuild its strength after losing the 2015 presidential election, and Lamido’s rejection of El-Rufai’s call is seen as a significant blow to the SDP’s efforts to attract prominent opposition figures.
