The Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, has denied that Malam Nasir El-Rufai is speaking on the party’s behalf in the coalition negotiations leading up to the 2027 election.
El-Rufai left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the SDP in March after his disagreement with the president. Since then, he has been advocating for an opposition coalition to overthrow the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
In an effort to build an alliance against the APC, El-Rufai, a member of the SDP, has been contacting other opposition lawmakers and national political figures to invite them to join the party.
Adebayo, however, has disassociated the SDP from El-Rufai’s coalition effort, claiming that the party is not participating in any coalition negotiations headed by another individual.
He went on to say that no one has been designated by the party’s leadership to speak or negotiate on its behalf.
During an interview on Wednesday, Adebayo said, “The SDP is not involved in any coalition led by somebody else, but I can tell you 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.
