2027: Obi’s Ex-Ally, Tanko, Leads SDP’s Presidential Campaign

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Wednesday inaugurated a 12,000-member National Campaign Council in Abuja, with former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, the party’s Nasarawa governorship candidate, among the frontline candidates presented to lead the grassroots charge for 2027.

National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, former spokesman for Peter Obi and former National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, thanked the leadership for the confidence reposed in him.

Tanko, who resigned as Obi’s Political Adviser for Northern Nigeria on October 30, pledged to build a formidable campaign organisation capable of advancing the SDP’s objectives and securing electoral support nationwide.

He described the SDP as a left-wing, people-oriented party committed to the interests of disadvantaged Nigerians, and expressed confidence in the Adebayo ticket to reposition Nigeria for progress.

National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, who also chairs the council, said the inauguration marked the party’s decisive shift from preparation to structured electoral engagement across the federation.

Gombe said the council would merge the party’s campaign structures with those of presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, into one coordinated, disciplined and results-oriented machine from national to polling-unit level.

He further said the 2027 elections were a defining moment for Nigeria, confronted by insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, poverty and declining confidence in governance.

Gombe stressed that victory must be pursued through lawful, peaceful and democratic means, with an issue-based campaign rooted in the Constitution, the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.

He said the SDP was working with other progressive opposition parties to defend credible, free, fair and transparent elections and to protect the independence of electoral institutions.

“Our mission is clear: to build a strong, united and nationwide political organisation capable of delivering electoral success for the Social Democratic Party at all levels in the 2027 General Elections,” Gombe said.

National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, said the council was not a paper structure but a working organisation with clearly defined responsibilities, communication channels and measurable targets for every committee and coordinator.

Agunloye also said the secretariat would coordinate the harmonisation of party and presidential campaign structures at zonal, state, local government, ward and polling-unit levels to avoid duplication and rivalry.

He said the party’s comprehensive manifesto remained its strongest campaign tool, having been translated into major Nigerian languages and produced in audio form for broadcast across 109 radio stations covering all 109 senatorial districts.

Agunloye said the secretariat would monitor compliance, ensure accountability and keep the campaign message consistent, people-centred and focused on social justice, equity and good governance.

He added that the presence of candidates like Adamu, who emerged through a substitution primary in Lafia with 28,637 delegates, showed the party’s growing appeal to experienced leaders seeking a credible platform.

Adebayo praised party candidates across the states for their sacrifice, noting that many had endured hardship to keep the party’s structures alive.

He condemned the reported removal of opposition posters in Adamawa State, describing it as a sign of dictatorship and insisting that every citizen must be allowed to share ideas freely.

He urged members to unite behind the new council, vote for a country that cares for its people, and build a Nigeria future generations would be proud of.

“We will build a country that will be proud of us,” Adebayo said.