2027 elections: Ex-Obidient coordinator Tanko dumps NDC for SDP

Former National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, has joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and emerged because the National Coordinator of its Presidential Campaign Council forward of the 2027 normal elections.

Tanko, who was a outstanding determine in Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential marketing campaign, was unveiled on Wednesday in the course of the inauguration of the SDP Presidential Campaign Council on the celebration’s nationwide secretariat in Abuja, blueprint reviews.

His appointment locations him on the centre of the marketing campaign of Prince Adewole Adebayo, who was introduced on the occasion because the celebration’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The growth marks one other vital flip in Tanko’s political relationship with Obi, who’s now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

However, Tanko’s transfer adopted his resignation as Obi’s Political Adviser for Northern Nigeria on October 30, 2026, after he had earlier been eliminated as National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement.

From Obi’s marketing campaign to SDP

Tanko was one of many main figures in Obi’s political mobilisation in the course of the 2023 presidential election, when the previous Anambra State governor contested on the platform of the Labour Party.

He served as Obi’s spokesman and media director of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation earlier than turning into National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement.

In September 2024, Obi appointed him because the National Coordinator of the motion worldwide, following an association that zoned the place to northern Nigeria.

The motion grew to become a serious platform for mobilising help for Obi throughout and after the 2023 election, attracting supporters throughout completely different elements of the nation.

However, on October 1, 2026, Obi introduced Tanko’s removing as nationwide coordinator and appointed him as his Political Adviser for Northern Nigeria forward of the 2027 normal elections.

The appointment appeared to offer Tanko with one other position inside Obi’s political construction, however his subsequent resignation paved the way in which for his newest transfer to the SDP.

Tanko explains resignation, relationship with Adebayo

Speaking on the SDP marketing campaign council inauguration, Tanko confirmed that he had resigned from his place as Obi’s political adviser earlier than accepting the brand new task.

He disclosed that his resignation took impact on October 30, including that he had reached out to Obi and the NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, to tell them of his choice.

“I tendered my resignation on the thirtieth of October 2026 because the political adviser to His Excellency Mr Peter Obi, to signify Northern Nigeria.

“I have since reached out to His Excellency Mr Peter Obi and the National Leader of the National Democratic Congress, Senator Seriake Dickson,” he stated.

Tanko expressed appreciation to the SDP management for the arrogance reposed in him, pledging to work with Adebayo and the National Consultative Front (NCFront) in the direction of advancing their political agenda.

He additionally indicated that his relationship with Adebayo was not a current growth, saying each males had maintained a cordial political relationship relationship again to 2023.

“This is not a mistake in history. When you go back into history, you will see my warm relationship with him way back in 2023. So this is a relationship that has long been built,” he stated.

He pledged to stay dedicated to good governance, justice, fairness and the pursuit of a Nigeria that works for all.

Tanko describes SDP as celebration of the downtrodden

In explaining his choice to simply accept the appointment, Tanko described the SDP as a left-wing and people-oriented political celebration dedicated to defending the pursuits of deprived Nigerians.

He stated the celebration represented extraordinary residents whose issues have been typically uncared for within the political course of.

“The SDP is a left-wing political party. For those of you who do not know, we represent the interests of the downtrodden. The SDP represents those people that you neglect on the streets. So, that makes this particular party people-oriented,” he stated.

Tanko stated his new duty would contain working with celebration leaders and different stakeholders to construct a marketing campaign organisation able to reaching Nigerians throughout the nation.

His appointment comes as political events start preparations for the 2027 normal elections, with opposition platforms searching for to consolidate their buildings and mobilise help forward of the competition.

SDP inaugurates 12,000-member marketing campaign council

The SDP additionally inaugurated a 12,000-member Presidential Campaign Council on the Abuja occasion, in response to reviews by Vanguard.

The celebration’s National Chairman, Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe, who was introduced as chairman of the marketing campaign council, urged members to strategy the election with dedication, self-discipline and efficient organisation.

Gombe stated the marketing campaign would deal with points affecting Nigerians, together with insecurity, financial hardship, unemployment, poverty and declining public confidence in governance.

He referred to as for an issue-based and people-centred marketing campaign, insisting that the celebration should current sensible alternate options to Nigerians.

He additionally urged members to reject violence, intimidation, electoral malpractice and different actions able to undermining the democratic course of.

The chairman stated the celebration meant to construct a nationwide political organisation able to mobilising help throughout communities and competing at completely different ranges within the 2027 elections.

Adebayo raises issues over political intolerance

At the inauguration, Adebayo raised issues over what he described as rising political intolerance and dictatorial tendencies below the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He argued that opposition events needs to be allowed to advertise their candidates, programmes and concepts with out intimidation or obstruction.

The SDP candidate referred to reviews of the removing or restriction of opposition marketing campaign posters, flyers and billboards in Adamawa State and different elements of the nation.

He maintained that democracy relied on the liberty of political events to canvass help and current different insurance policies to voters.

Adebayo warned that proscribing opposition actions may weaken public confidence within the electoral course of and threaten the nation’s political stability.

He urged members of the marketing campaign council to show seriousness and provide Nigerians a reputable different by means of their programmes and engagement with voters.

Tanko’s political journey and the Obidient Movement

Tanko’s newest appointment represents a brand new part in a political journey that has taken him by means of completely different events and political platforms.

Before his involvement in Obi’s 2023 presidential marketing campaign, he had served as chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council in 2015 and later joined the National Conscience Party.

He additionally contested the 2019 presidential election below the platform of the National Conscience Party.

His emergence as a number one determine within the Obidient Movement positioned him among the many outstanding political actors related to Obi’s nationwide mobilisation in the course of the 2023 election.

Although his departure from Obi’s political advisory crew has now been confirmed, there isn’t a indication that the Obidient Movement as a complete has moved to the SDP. Tanko’s new appointment is a person political choice and shouldn’t be interpreted as a collective defection by the motion’s supporters.

The growth however provides one other dimension to the altering political alignments forward of the 2027 election.

SDP management dispute raises questions over Adebayo’s candidacy

Meanwhile, Tanko’s appointment has emerged in opposition to the background of an inner management dispute throughout the SDP, significantly over the celebration’s recognised management and the standing of Adebayo.

A press release printed on a web site bearing the SDP’s identify disputed Adebayo’s presentation because the celebration’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

In the assertion, the celebration claimed that Adebayo had been expelled following resolutions adopted at its National Executive Committee assembly and National Convention held on May 20, 2026.

It additional argued that he was due to this fact not eligible to take part within the celebration’s nomination course of and was by no means nominated as its presidential candidate.

The assertion urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to overview its printed data in opposition to what it described because the celebration’s resolutions and nomination paperwork.

The place contrasts with the announcement at Wednesday’s occasion, the place Gombe and different celebration figures introduced Adebayo because the SDP presidential candidate and inaugurated a marketing campaign council round his candidacy.

The competing claims level to the persevering with management and candidate-recognition dispute throughout the celebration, which may develop into a serious subject because the 2027 election approaches.

For Tanko, the brand new appointment locations him in a outstanding marketing campaign position as soon as once more, however the political and organisational questions surrounding the SDP platform stay a part of the broader story.