Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been expelled from the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Announcing his expulsion from the party, SDP also imposed a 30-year ban on El-Rufai.

SDP’s National Working Committee, NWC, said the action was in line with the party’s constitution, ideology, manifesto, principles, and practices, as well as in consonance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act pertaining to the exclusive right of a political party to determine its membership.

A statement by the party’s spokesman, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, warned members against associating with El-Rufai and those who don’t represent its interest.

Parts of the statement read: “El-Rufai is hereby banished and banned from applying for membership, identifying with the name, insignia, logo, symbol, mark, or any activities, organs, agencies, and institutions of the SDP or donating to, supporting, contributing to, or participating in any affairs of the SDP for a period of 30 years effective from today.”

It would be recalled that El-Rufai joined the SDP after quiting the All Progressives Congress, APC.

However, El-Rufai is also a key member of the opposition coalition which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as its platform ahead of the 2027 election.

Members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos on Monday staged a protest at the House of Assembly complex, demanding the immediate removal of the party’s state chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi.

The demonstrators, reportedly drawn from the 57 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, across the state, converged at the Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja, holding placards with messages like ‘Ojelabi Must Go’ and ‘We Demand New Leadership’.

The protesters voiced dissatisfaction with the current leadership, calling for a shake-up in the state party structure ahead of upcoming political activities.

A heavy presence of police personnel was observed at the Assembly to ensure the protest remained peaceful and to prevent any escalation into violence or disruption of public order.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the leadership of the state Assembly nor the APC state executive had officially responded to the protest.

The newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of the 20 local government areas and 37 local development areas of Lagos State have been sworn in.

The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, swore in the officials at Lagos House, Ikeja, on Sunday.

The council chairmen and councillors emerged following the July 12, 2025, elections held in the state.

The state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Bolaji Robert, congratulated the council chairmen on their emergence.

He said: ” Your victories at the polls are a testament to your grassroots appeal and the confidence the people have reposed in you.

“The credibility of your emergence, anchored on transparency and broad-based support, is what has culminated in the swearing-in exercise we are gathered here to witness today,” he said.

Robert also commended Sanwo-Olu for promoting grassroots democracy, noting that his leadership ensured the implementation of all necessary measures for a peaceful, transparent, and credible local government election.