Nasarawa West Senator Ahmed Wadada, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has announced plans to exit the party following a disagreement with former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
The senator, speaking at a press briefing in Lafia, attributed his decision to “irreconcilable differences” with el-Rufai, who recently defected to the SDP.
“Even though Malam El-Rufai is my elder brother,” Senator Wadada stated, “I don’t think I can stay with him in the SDP because he is not a principled politician.
“I cannot be part of a political platform where there is no ideological direction and where personal ambition overrides collective interest.”
It is understood that the senator’s exit is also tied to his rumoured ambition to contest the Nasarawa governorship in 2027.
El-Rufai, once an ally of President Bola Tinubu, was a key figure in the 2023 campaign. He advocated for a Southern presidency and backed Tinubu to victory. However, his denial of a ministerial role and associating issues reportedly led to his defection to the SDP, where he now appears to be positioning himself for a new political offensive ahead of 2027.
The former governor has said Tinubu will be returned to Lagos and vowed to raise an opposition coalition to ensure that.
