In Twist of Irony, Al-Mustapha, Abachs’s CSO, Joins Abiola’s SDP

By Gideon Njoku

Nobody could have imagined it. But it happened on February 13, 2025.

27 years after the death of Abiola while in detention, and 29 years after the murder of his wife, Kudirat,  Major Hamza Al- Mustapha, rtd, late General Sani Abacha’s then dreaded Chief Security Officer, CSO, is now a member of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Ordinarily, it shouldn’t make much news.  Afterall, Mustapha had, for years, plunged into politics, founding a political party, and running, twice, for the office of the President. But this is different.

What makes it news is the political party Mustapha has just defected to.

It is the Party under which Chief Moshood Abiola contested for the Presidential seat of Nigeria on June 12, 2023. He won, as has been confirmed by Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, under whose regime the election was conducted, but was clamped into detention from which he never came out alive. He died in detention on July 7, 1998.

Sadly, before Abiola died in detention, his wife Kudirat, was shot to death in the streets of Lagos, on June 4, 1996 while she and her husband were fighting for the actualization of Abiola’s mandate.

It was Al-Mustapha’s boss, Abacha, who clamped him into detention, It was, also under Abacha that Kudirat was murdered.

Al-Mustapha was held for years and tried for that murder in Court, but nothing much came out of it. He was discharged and acquitted.

However the circumstances surrounding the death of Abiola and his wife seem to have faded a bit, what with Al- Mustapha now becoming a member of the SDP, the Party under which Abiola won the annulled Presidential election.

Al-Mustapha, who has since been an active participant and commentator on national issues, joined the SDP, a couple of days after Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the same Party.

Al-Mustapha arrived the Party Headquarters in Abuja in tow with his supporters and was very warmly received by Party officials.

Shehu Musa Gabam, the National Chairman of the SDP, in a post on his Facebook page announced Al-Mustapha’s membership of the Party thus:

“Major Dr Hamzat Al-Mustapha, Joins SDP for a New Era of  National Progress.

“Major Dr Hamza Al-Mustapha and his powerful entourage have arrived at the SDP National Headquarters, Abuja.

“This is a defining moment as we welcome a visionary leader, committed to the progress and unity of Nigeria.

“His presence signifies a bold step toward a stronger people- driven leadership, one that prioritizes justice, security and development. Together, we are building a formidable force that will reshape the future of our great nation.

“The SDP train is unstoppable! Join us as we move Nigeria forward.”

Al-Mustapha was the Presidential candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, in the 2023 General Elections.