SDP threatens legal action over Wadada’s APC move

Fresh controversy has trailed the defection of the senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, Aliyu Wadada, to the All Progressives Congress, with the Social Democratic Party insisting that the lawmaker remains its member and may face legal consequences if due process is not followed.

The SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, rejected Wadada’s defection, arguing that he failed to formally resign from the party before announcing his move to the ruling APC.

Wadada was recently endorsed by Governor Abdullahi Sule as a preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship race.

His pick has caused ripples in the state chapter of the party, with other governorship aspirants insisting they would go for a primary.

During a recent briefing in Lafia, Wadada had appealed to party stakeholders to support his ambition, describing the governor’s endorsement as a call to higher service and a mandate to build on existing developmental strides in the state.

However, Aiyenigba described Wadada’s failure to resign formally from the SDP as a violation of the Electoral Act.

He said, “The SDP is an organised political party, well structured and highly disciplined. We follow due process.

“The national chairman told us at the last press conference, when the issue of Senator Wadada came up, that he has not, at any point, formally submitted his resignation.

“But I can assure you that the party is following due process in what is necessary for us to do.

The legal department is already handling that. You can’t eat your cake and have it. The party is aware that, under the new Electoral Act, you are not expected to be in two political parties at the same time.

“The fact that he has not sent in his resignation letter formally means that he is still considered to be a member. This is because the position he occupies, even at the National Assembly, is for the SDP. It is a position meant for an opposition party.”

The party spokesman said the party would take the matter up, adding that “I can assure you the needful will be done and justice will be served.”

The dispute follows Wednesday’s plenary at the Senate, where two opposition lawmakers formally defected to the APC.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read their letters on the floor, announcing the exit of Wadada from the SDP and Osita Ngwu from the Peoples Democratic Party, both citing internal challenges within their former parties.

Wadada’s defection has drawn heightened attention amid his growing political profile in Nasarawa State.

The SDP, however, insisted that beyond political ambition, the lawmaker must comply strictly with legal requirements governing party membership and defection.

Aiyenigba further argued that Wadada could not continue to serve as chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, a position traditionally reserved for opposition parties, while claiming affiliation with the ruling APC.

The PUNCH reports that recent amendments to the Electoral Act in March 2026 prohibit dual party membership.

The amendment prescribes penalties, including a fine of N10m, up to two years’ imprisonment, or both, for violators.

It introduced three new subsections to Section 77 of the Act, which deals with political party membership.

The amendment also empowers authorities to invalidate multiple party registrations held simultaneously by any individual.

Political observers say the situation could pose serious risks for Wadada’s future ambitions, particularly his proposed 2027 governorship bid, if questions around his party status remain unresolved.

There are growing concerns that the Independent National Electoral Commission may invoke the provisions of the amended law to disqualify candidates who are unable to prove proper resignation from their previous parties before contesting elections.