The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has officially distanced itself from former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai's coalition campaign efforts, stating he does not represent the party in any coalition talks ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adewole Adebayo, the SDP's 2023 presidential candidate, made this clarification during an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, emphasizing that the party leadership has not authorized anyone to negotiate on its behalf.
"The SDP is not involved in any coalition led by somebody else," Adebayo stated. "SDP is led by Alh. Shehu Gabam and Olu Agunloye, and he has not given me an assignment to do coalition on his behalf. He's not given any assignment to my senior brother, El-Rufai. El-Rufai is not representing SDP in any coalition."
El-Rufai, who joined the SDP in March 2025 after falling out with the presidency and leaving the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has been actively campaigning for an opposition coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. Reports indicate he has been reaching out to opposition politicians and other political leaders to join the SDP to form an alliance against the APC.
When asked about the party's stance on forming coalitions, Adebayo revealed that the SDP is still evaluating its options. "The SDP is waiting, expressing its own understanding of how best it will come together and remove this person and cause the APC and non-performing president called Bola Tinubu," he said.
"The SDP has plans, and we are looking at various options. And we realize that at the end of the option, we will need a political party that is viable," Adebayo added.
This statement follows Adebayo's April declaration that El-Rufai and other opposition figures who recently joined the SDP would not be permitted to hijack the party for personal vendettas against President Tinubu.
The development highlights growing tensions within opposition circles as political parties begin positioning themselves for Nigeria's next general elections in 2027.
