With Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election just two years away, the country’s political landscape is rapidly shifting. Politicians and power brokers are already forging new alliances, scouting for platforms, and testing the waters ahead of what promises to be another high-stakes contest for Aso Rock.
At the center of these realignments is the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which has unexpectedly emerged as a major player in the unfolding drama. According to the party’s National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, no fewer than seven presidential hopefuls have already signaled interest in running under the SDP’s banner.
“We have eight presidential aspirants; it could be 10. Seven of them are on our platform,” Agunloye revealed on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a political program aired on Channels Television on Friday night.
Though he declined to name the aspirants, his statement underscores the growing influence of the SDP as a potential alternative for politicians disenchanted with Nigeria’s mainstream parties.
One of the most intriguing developments is the potential defection of Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP). According to Agunloye, Obi’s associates have approached the SDP leadership to explore the possibility of his candidacy under the party’s platform.
“Obi’s people came to us to say, ‘If Obi comes, would you take him?’ Of course, we told them: ‘Yes’,” Agunloye said.
However, he stressed that Obi must formally join the SDP if he intends to run on its ticket.
“You cannot be in the Labour Party and be telling us Obi is coming without joining us. Otherwise, we can’t open our doors for you,” he added.
The political recalibrations gained momentum on March 20, 2025, when opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, announced a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
The coalition hopes to capitalize on the combined strength of Atiku and Obi, who collectively secured over 12 million votes in the 2023 election, four million more than Tinubu’s official tally. With Nigeria grappling with record-high inflation and an unprecedented cost of living crisis, the opposition sees an opportunity to unseat the APC government, which it accuses of economic mismanagement.
As intra-party crises plague both the PDP and LP, and discontent brews within the APC, the SDP has become a refuge for politicians seeking a fresh platform.
Agunloye confirmed that El-Rufai and several of his associates have already defected to the SDP, along with former presidential candidate Hamza Al-Mustapha.
“El-Rufai has come, and a couple of his former commissioners and associates. Several others called, saying they don’t know El-Rufai personally, but because he joined, they want to come,” Agunloye stated.
Despite the influx of political heavyweights, Agunloye assured that the SDP would not allow newcomers to override long-standing party members.
“We will not allow people to come and sweep the landlords out. We must find a way to synergize and maximize opportunities because these are people with a lot of experience,” he explained.
The question of who will emerge as the SDP’s presidential candidate remains a delicate one. Agunloye acknowledged that managing the ambitions of figures like Obi, Atiku, El-Rufai, and former Sokoto governor Attahiru Bafarawa would require careful negotiation.
“Just imagine Peter Obi, Atiku, El-Rufai, and Bafarawa on the same platform. You have to find a balance,” he noted.
On the issue of zoning the 2027 ticket between the North and South, Agunloye stated that the party’s leadership would deliberate on the matter when the time is right.
“We need to strengthen all the structures in SDP. We need to preserve the integrity of the party. We must be honest in our dealings if we want to bring together candidates like Obi, Atiku, and Adewole Adebayo on the same table,” he said.
As Nigeria inches closer to 2027, the SDP’s role in shaping the election could become more significant than ever before. Whether it emerges as a true alternative to the traditional powerhouses or merely serves as a stepping stone for defecting politicians remains to be seen.
Source: Ripples Nigeria
