Mathew Amaechi
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is embroiled in internal strife as a faction led by Chief Wole Adesina issued a stern warning against a burgeoning political coalition seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections. The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), aligned with Adesina, condemned the movement as “disturbing” and lacking a credible vision for Nigeria’s future, marking a pivotal moment in the opposition’s fragmented landscape.
In a sharply worded statement on Monday, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Alfa Mohammed, criticized the influx of “aggrieved politicians” forming alliances to “send President Tinubu back to Lagos” without articulating a clear alternative agenda. “The party is not for sale or lease to any group and will not be part of anti-government plots that lack a transformative plan for Nigeria,” Mohammed declared, distancing the SDP from what he termed “desperate” efforts to undermine Tinubu’s administration.
The Adesina-led faction emphasized its commitment to constructive engagement with the federal government, pledging to hold it accountable while respecting the electoral mandate of the 2023 polls. This stance contrasts sharply with the actions of rival SDP groups and external coalitions, which the faction accused of seeking to destabilize Nigeria’s political order.
The NEC also raised alarms over attempts to “illegally replace” constitutionally recognized state executives, allegedly orchestrated by a coalition group collaborating with a rival SDP faction. Mohammed likened the crisis to the 2019 leadership tussle, when defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Prof. Jerry Gana, infiltrated the SDP and triggered the resignation of then-Chairman Olu Falae. The fallout from that episode remains mired in legal disputes, with the Adesina faction claiming legitimacy as the “direct offshoot” of Falae’s leadership.
“We will not allow history to repeat itself,” Mohammed asserted, urging SDP leaders nationwide to resist leadership usurpation and report such actions to authorities. The faction also reassured members that efforts to regain full recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are underway.
The SDP’s internal discord mirrors broader turmoil within Nigeria’s opposition. The PDP, Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) are similarly fractured by leadership disputes and defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Analysts like Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, warn that opposition coalitions lack strategy and unity, describing them as “weak” compared to the APC’s calculated machinery.
Notably, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s recent defection to the SDP has fueled speculation about the party’s role in a potential anti-Tinubu alliance. However, the Adesina faction has explicitly rejected such collaborations, labeling them “self-centered” and detrimental to Nigeria’s stability.
With Tinubu’s APC already endorsing him for a second term and touting economic reforms, the opposition’s viability hinges on resolving internal crises. While SDP chairman Shehu Gabam has positioned the party as a “vehicle for coalition,” the Adesina faction’s defiance unveils the challenges of unifying disparate political interests.
Mohammed concluded with a call for vigilance: “Our doors remain open to genuine members, but we will not compromise our principles for transient alliances.” As Nigeria’s political landscape evolves, the SDP’s ability to reconcile its factions—or succumb to further fragmentation—could determine its relevance in the 2027 showdown.
