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After recently defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, and his close associates are allegedly planning a radical reform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Sources who talked to SaharaReporters claim that El-Rufai is attempting to change the party’s identity and ideological stance in collaboration with Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer of the late military ruler General Sani Abacha, and Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney General of the Federation.

According to insiders, the three feel that the SDP’s present philosophy leans too much toward socialism and are uneasy with the party’s historical ties to the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO), the victor of the 1993 presidential election that was canceled.

“El-Rufai, Al-Mustapha, and Malami are pushing to change the party’s name, logo and constitution,” a senior party source revealed.

“They consider the party too socialist and want to distance themselves from MKO Abiola’s legacy, tied to the annulled 1993 election. They don’t want anything to do with MKO Abiola, as he won the 1993 election annulled by Babangida and Co., under the party’s platform.”

Party loyalists are allegedly upset about the move because they believe the proposed changes are meant to destroy the SDP’s legacy and ideological foundations.

El-Rufai’s purported noncompliance with due procedure in entering the party is another factor fueling the debate. He reportedly sent merely his APC resignation letter to the national secretariat and declared himself a member, instead of enrolling through his ward as required by the SDP’s constitution.

“El-Rufai did not go to his ward to join the party,” the source said.

“He only presented his resignation letter from the APC to the SDP national secretariat and started announcing his membership, whereas he was supposed to join the party at the ward level.”

El-Rufai is accused of carrying out broad initiatives, like as advocating for constitutional changes and seeking to disband the party’s state executive branch in Kaduna, while not having a legal registration.

“Despite not being a bona fide member of the party, he is already proposing changing the name, logo and constitution of the party,” the source added.

“He still went ahead to illegally dissolve and take over the state executive committee of the party. This is illegal.”

As longtime members of the SDP voice opposition to what they see as an aggressive move to seize control of the party and rename it to fit a new political agenda, the developments have led to an increase in conflict inside the party.

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