Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has firmly rejected the recent call by Malam Nasir El-Rufai for opposition leaders to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai, who recently made the switch from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP, extended an invitation to key opposition figures during an interview with BBC Hausa.
While he did not explicitly name Lamido, the ex-Kaduna governor specifically mentioned notable figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, urging them to consider joining the SDP.
However, Lamido, in a response aired on BBC Hausa on Sunday, March 16, 2025, expressed strong disapproval of El-Rufai’s suggestion, calling it an insult. He emphasized that it was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that laid the foundation for El-Rufai’s political rise, dismissing the notion of him now attempting to lead opposition figures in a new direction.
“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.”
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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.
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