The South-West leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has firmly declared its non-involvement in the recently announced opposition coalition that adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a unified platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This announcement came during a stakeholders' meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State, where prominent leaders of the SDP from all six states in the region gathered to deliberate on the party’s strategy moving forward.
Leading the meeting, Hon. Femi Olaniyi, widely known as “Ferrari” and who also serves as both the Chairman of all SDP chairmen in Nigeria and the party’s chairman in Lagos State, clarified that the South-West zone of the party has not entered any coalition agreement.
He stressed that only the National Working Committee (NWC) of the SDP has the authority to approve any alliances or mergers, and until such directive is officially communicated, all regional chapters should remain focused on internal development.
“As it stands now, there is nothing like a coalition in SDP. Only the NWC can take such a decision on behalf of the party. Until we hear from them, we remain focused and united across the six states of the Southwest,” Olaniyi firmly stated.
The clarification followed reports of a recent opposition gathering attended by influential political leaders including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, and ex-governors Rauf Aregbesola, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi, where a consensus was allegedly reached to use ADC as the platform for a united opposition front.
Olaniyi reassured members that the SDP in the South-West remains fully operational, committed to grassroots mobilization, and focused on preparing for the 2027 elections independently.
“In 2027, we will rescue Nigeria from the current administration, bring a formidable government, and show all Nigerians a true and real democracy,” he asserted.
Adding to the conversation, Hon. Babatunde Omotayo, SDP lawmaker representing Ise-Orun Constituency in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, emphasized that internal dialogue and unity remain crucial to achieving the party’s long-term goals.
“The most important thing we discussed was how to remain one and speak with one voice to move the party forward,” Omotayo noted.
The meeting was also attended by other party stalwarts, including Hon. Okunlade Michael (Oyo), Barr. Gbenga Akinbuli (Ondo), Otunba Yinka Ola-Williams (Ogun), Alhaji Yinus Gbadamosi (Osun), Hon. Ayodele Bamikole (Ekiti), and Hon. Bosede Ilesanmi, the party’s Deputy National Woman Leader.
At the close of the gathering, attendees resolved to maintain discipline, strengthen the SDP’s presence across the South-West region, and await further directives from the national leadership before engaging in any form of coalition talks.