Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West in the Nigerian Senate, has announced his resignation from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), attributing his decision to disagreements with certain new entrants into the party.
Speaking to journalists in Keffi yesterday, Wadada pointed to former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai as a major factor behind his exit. Despite referring to El-Rufai as an elder brother, the senator said he could not remain in the same political party with someone whose principles he does not respect.
“Even though Malam El-Rufai is my elder brother, I don’t think I can stay with him in the SDP because he is not a principled politician,” Wadada said.
He criticised El-Rufai for what he described as political inconsistency. Wadada recalled that El-Rufai was once a strong advocate for power rotation to the South and played a key role in the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as APC presidential candidate and ultimately President. Yet, he expressed disappointment that El-Rufai left the APC simply because he was not appointed a minister.
“What has changed about President Tinubu between the time El-Rufai supported him and now that he has defected to the SDP?” Wadada asked, questioning the former governor’s motives.
He described the defection as selfish and driven by personal ambition rather than national interest. According to him, such tendencies are incompatible with his political values.
Wadada contrasted El-Rufai’s actions with those of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, whom he praised for remaining loyal to the APC even after his preferred presidential candidate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, lost the primaries to Tinubu. He described Adamu’s loyalty and consistency as signs of political integrity.
On national issues, Senator Wadada acknowledged the economic difficulties following the removal of fuel subsidies but expressed hope that the situation would improve. He noted that, under the subsidy regime, only a few individuals benefitted, whereas now, the funds are being channelled directly to state governments for development.
He commended Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule for putting the subsidy savings to good use.
“In Nasarawa State, the impact of the oil subsidy funds is visible everywhere—even to the most gullible and the blind,” he declared.
