Adebayo Addresses Future Strategies Amid Controversy Over El-Rufai’s Alliance: “Our Vision for 2027 Is Still On Course

Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party (SDP)’s 2023 presidential candidate, has denied that Malam Nasir El-Rufai represents the party in coalition discussions ahead of the 2027 election.

Following his disagreement with the president, El-Rufai left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the SDP in March. He has subsequently campaigned for an opposition coalition to take power from President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party in 2027.

El-Rufai, a member of the SDP, has been reaching out to other opposition politicians and political leaders in the country to form an alliance against the APC.

However, Adebayo has distanced the SDP from El-Rufai’s coalition campaign, saying the party is not in any coalition talks led by someone else.

He also stated that the party leadership has not assigned anyone to speak or negotiate on its behalf.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, Adebayo said, “The SDP is not involved in any coalition led by somebody else, but I can tell you, and the SDP is led by Alh. Shehu Gabam and Olu Agunloye, 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.”

When asked if the SDP is entering a coalition, Adebayo said the party is waiting, planning and considering options.

He said, “The SDP is waiting, is 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 added, “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.”