SDP Set to Welcome Peter Obi’s Supporters as Seven Aspirants Eye Presidential Ticket
With Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election approaching in less than two years, political activity is intensifying as key figures explore different parties to realize their ambition of occupying the nation’s highest office in Abuja.
Fresh political alliances are emerging, with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) already fielding seven presidential aspirants, as revealed by the party’s National Secretary, Olu Agunloye.
Speaking on the socio-political programme Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Agunloye stated, “We have eight presidential aspirants; it could even reach ten. Seven of them are on our platform.” The former steel minister did not disclose the names of the aspirants, but emphasized the importance of retaining all those interested in the party’s ticket.
In his comments, Agunloye shared that supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, have approached the SDP to lay the groundwork for Obi’s potential candidacy, although the former Anambra governor has not yet made an official announcement regarding his intentions. “Obi’s supporters came to us asking, if Obi decides to join, would we accept him? Of course, we said yes,” Agunloye confirmed. He added that those supporters are already aligning with the SDP, but emphasized that joining the party would be a prerequisite for their involvement.
While Obi’s possible move to the SDP remains uncertain, Agunloye made it clear that the party is committed to strengthening its own position.
In the lead-up to the 2027 election, discussions about a potential cross-party alliance gained traction in March 2025, particularly with opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar and Obi, along with former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, rallying together to challenge the current administration led by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This coalition is leveraging the significant support Atiku and Obi received in the 2023 polls, which combined for over 12 million votes—more than four million ahead of Tinubu, who was declared the victor by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, internal struggles and leadership issues within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), along with grievances within the APC, have led many disillusioned politicians to consider the SDP as a viable alternative.
Agunloye affirmed the SDP’s openness to new members, stating, “Our gates are open. If they want to join, we will take them.” Nevertheless, he stressed that newcomers would not be allowed to overshadow the party’s existing members. “We must find a way to collaborate and leverage everyone’s strengths to benefit the party’s success in the upcoming election,” he noted.
He also acknowledged the value of experienced figures such as El-Rufai, emphasizing that his political acumen, energy, and financial backing would be an asset to the SDP, while ensuring the party maintains its core values. “Anyone who is capable of winning elections has resources. Whether they raised them or inherited them, it’s a plus for us,” Agunloye added.
Boasting the party’s national presence in all 774 local government areas, Agunloye made it clear that new members would need to align with the SDP’s structure and principles. On the possibility of Atiku joining the SDP, Agunloye stated, “I’ve been hearing rumors about Atiku’s potential move. He and I have been friends since his time as vice president, but he hasn’t said anything to me about joining the party.”
On the influx of new members, Agunloye noted that figures like Hamza Al-Mustapha and El-Rufai, along with several of their allies, have already signed up, with many others expressing interest due to these prominent figures’ involvement. However, he stressed that only those officially registered in the party’s records could be considered full members.
