Hamza al-Mustapha, a former assistant to the late military leader General Sani Abacha, has officially joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Al-Mustapha arrived at the SDP headquarters in Abuja, accompanied by his team, where he was warmly received by party leaders and supporters.
He said his move to the party demonstrated his commitment to leadership based on justice, security and progress.
The move comes after Kaduna State former governor Nasir El-Rufai abandoned all the Progress Conference (APC) and defected to the SDP.
El-Rufai accused APC of not following its founding principles, adding that the government is now commercialized and everything has a price.
The former governor vowed to oppose the Bola Ahmed Tinubu government in a 2027 poll.
Naija News Al-Mustapha was reportedly the chief security officer of former military ruler Sani Abacha during the government from 1993 to 1998.
During his military regime, he was known as one of Abacha’s closest colleagues.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development Abdullahi ATA dismissed the recent political moves of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai as they desperately want to remain relevant and declare that his political career is actually over.
The ATA accused El-Rufai of not ensuring the appointment of the minister for President Bola Tinubu’s administration for failing to pass the security screening.
He further criticized El-Rufai’s tenure as governor of Kaduna State and described it as a period characterized by insecurity, division policies and failed leadership.
Despite El-Rufai’s rebellion against the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and his attacks on all the Progressive Conferences (APCs), the ATA promises that Tinubu’s government remains focused on delivering on its promises and will not be distracted by political drama.
His tenure as FCT minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo is marked by a controversial policy and a leadership style of hardship. This trend continued into his political journey from his era of opposition in the APC’s growth to his tenure as the two-term governor of Kaduna.
“So, it is no surprise that in the current allocation, while President Tinob remains focused on dealing with the multifaceted challenges facing Nigeria, El-Rufai chose another round of political mischief,” ATA said in a statement from his media aide.Ensure Goda.
The minister further accused El-Rufai of presided over Kaduna’s period of severe insecurity, noting that under his leadership, ethnic and sectarian violence had greatly escalated.
“Under his watch, Kaduna recorded some of the largest deaths associated with community conflict and terrorist activities. Notoriously, he once admitted to paying foreign militias, an claim that remains a dark stain on his record and raises questions about his role in promoting peace and stability,” ATA pointed out.
He described El-Rufai’s leadership style as a division, claiming his policies alienated minorities and exacerbated community tensions in the state.
