The South-West chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has disowned the recently announced coalition of opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that it remains independent and focused on its internal strategy to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Addressing stakeholders during a regional meeting on Saturday at the party’s secretariat in Ibadan, Oyo State, Chairman of SDP Chairmen across Nigeria and Lagos State party chairman, Femi Olaniyi popularly known as Ferrari clarified the party’s position.
“We make them to understand that no part of SDP in the region that joins the coalition,” Olaniyi said. “Nobody can take any decision on this coalition except the directive from our NWC. So, we are still waiting for our NWC to come up with its own stand and everything regarding this coalition. As it stands now, there is nothing like a coalition in SDP.”
The meeting was convened to address growing concerns among members and stakeholders over the party’s perceived involvement in the newly formed opposition alliance, which has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform. That coalition includes high-profile figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, and ex-governors Rauf Aregbesola and Nasir El-Rufai.
Olaniyi, however, maintained that the South-West SDP remains firmly autonomous, emphasising unity and cohesion among its regional leadership.
“We discussed about the challenges, progress and the coalition at our meeting. We have seen how everything is being played out in our party. So, we need to brief our members, especially our stakeholders in the region,” he said.
He explained that the South-West chapter covering Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti States had received multiple inquiries about its position on the coalition and felt it necessary to clarify the matter to avoid misinformation.
“The NWC has promised to guide us and assist each state with membership cards, register and every other thing at the appropriate time,” he added. “In 2027, we will rescue Nigeria from the current administration, bring a formidable government and show all Nigerians a true and real democracy.”
Backing Olaniyi’s stance, Babatunde Omotayo, a serving lawmaker representing Ise-Orun Constituency in the Ekiti State House of Assembly under the SDP platform, also reaffirmed the party’s independence.
“We are here to resolve some issues. We resolved issues and dialogued for the development of our party SDP,” Omotayo said. “The most important among what we discussed was how we can remain one and speak with one voice to move the party forward in the region. So, SDP as a political party doesn’t have plan to join the so-called coalition.”
Also present at the meeting were prominent South-West party leaders including Oyo State Chairman Okunlade Michael, Ondo’s Gbenga Akinbuli, Ogun’s Yinka Ola-Williams, Osun’s Yinus Gbadamosi, and Ekiti’s Ayodele Bamikole. The Deputy National Woman Leader of the SDP, Bosede Mercy Ilesanmi, also participated in the deliberations.
Stakeholders at the event collectively agreed to intensify grassroots mobilisation and await formal directives from the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on all major decisions, including coalition matters. The meeting concluded with a renewed call for unity and a shared vision to challenge the ruling APC through democratic means in the next general elections.
