Hajia Zainab Sani, the Women Leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kaduna State, has resigned from the party, dealing a significant blow to the proposed merger between the SDP and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) reportedly being driven by former governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Zainab, a grassroots mobiliser from Giwa Local Government Area, has long been regarded as one of the most influential female political figures in the state. A former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), she was instrumental in mobilising women during the party’s past electoral victories before defecting to the SDP, where she became one of El-Rufai’s key political allies.
In a statement announcing her resignation, Zainab said she could no longer remain in a party that “has lost touch with the people” and is “driven more by elite political interests than by the realities of the masses.”
“The SDP has failed to demonstrate a people-first agenda,” she stated. “Our people continue to face poverty, insecurity, and hunger. Many in Kaduna still remember the anti-people policies of the last administration, and I cannot be part of any arrangement that seeks to repackage that legacy under a new banner.”
Political observers believe her departure could alter the balance of emerging alliances in Kaduna, particularly as the SDP struggles to maintain its relevance amid merger discussions with the ADC to form a third force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Although Zainab has not revealed her next political step, insider sources told our correspondent that she has finalised plans to return to the APC.
Credit: LEADERSHIP
