Sule Lamido rejects El-Rufai’s invitation to SDP

Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has rejected Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s call for opposition leaders to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

El-Rufai, who recently joined the SDP after dumping the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), appealed to opposition leaders in an interview with the BBC Hausa.

Although he didn’t mention Lamido’s name, the ex-governor of Kaduna State invited key opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, to join the SDP.

Responding to El-Rufai’s call in a separate BBC Hausa interview on Sunday, March 16, 2025, Lamido described the former governor’s invitation as an insult, saying the PDP laid the foundation for El-Rufai’s political career.

“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,” Lamido said.

He added, “He once said that there are no adults in Nigeria in politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP.”

Lamido also questioned El-Rufai’s motive for dumping the APC for the SDP and his leadership style.

“Leadership is done with patience and vision, and doing things for the peace of the followers and the country as a whole,” the PDP chieftain said.

Restating his loyalty to the PDP, Lamido said the opposition party has not done anything to warrant his defection.

“If I was going to leave the PDP, I would have done so in 2014 when the APC was formed,” he said.

Lamido also enjoined El-Rufai to put patriotism first instead of showing anger towards others.

He said, “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,” he concluded.