El-Rufai’s visit to SDP not political, says national secretary

The National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, Dr Olu Agunloye has said that the visit of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to the Abuja National Secretariat of the party is not political.

Agunloye specifically said that the ex-governor’s visit had nothing to do with the 2027 general election.

El-Rufai, who had abandoned political activities since he failed to clinch the ministerial slot in President Bola Tinubu’s government, returned to the political limelight with a surprised visit to the SDP National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, on Wednesday.

The APC chieftain was among the ministerial-nominees of President Tinubu, but was not cleared by the Senate.

He later traveled abroad, and after spending some time overseas, returned to the country while maintaining a low political profile amid rumoured defection.

The former governor’s visit to the SDP secretariat has again brought him to the political limelight, even as some political observers are linking his visit to the 2027 general election.

Speaking in an interview with Saturday According on Thursday, the SDP national secretary described El-Rufai’s visit as casual and did not have any link with politics.

He said, “Everybody has been friends with El-rufai. The National Chairman and El-Rufai were in the PDP at some point. El-Rufai and I were in (Olusegun) Obasanjo’s cabinet. He only came to visit his old friends. So, what can come out of that? I don’t know. Anything can and nothing may.

“It wasn’t as if there was an appointment for the visit. If you were in Abuja and came to the office, you would meet us because we are all here. So, it was a friendly visit.

When asked if El-Rufai would consider joining the SDP, he said, “It depends on him. If he wants to join, there is no problem at all. Of course, he will be welcome. If you want to join the SDP, we will welcome you, If President Tinubu wants to join the SDP, we will welcome him.”

He added, “But the issue at the moment is beyond whether someone is joining a party or not. There are issues on the ground which is how to save Nigeria.

“People must come together across party lines and across religious borders to address the problems. Things are not going right in Nigeria. It goes beyond just turning to God to save us as if it is God that put us in this mess.”