As the countdown to Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election intensifies, political maneuvering and realignments are taking shape, with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) emerging as a potential player in the battle for Aso Rock. According to Olu Agunloye, the party’s National Secretary, a remarkable number of presidential aspirants are already positioning themselves to contest on the SDP platform, as the search for political vehicles to contest the presidency gains momentum.
In an interview on the socio-political program Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, Agunloye revealed that the SDP currently has seven presidential aspirants, with the possibility of more joining the race. He confirmed that the party’s platform has attracted significant interest from political heavyweights, though he did not name the individuals who are eyeing the party’s presidential ticket. According to Agunloye, the SDP is keen on retaining these aspirants and ensuring that no one slips away to other parties.
The ex-minister of steel, who has been part of Nigeria’s political landscape for years, shared that the party is seeing a significant influx of members from other parties. This includes loyalists of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who are reportedly preparing the ground for the former Anambra State governor to join the SDP. Agunloye stated that Obi’s supporters had approached the SDP, inquiring if the party would accept the former governor, should he decide to join. He responded affirmatively, indicating that the SDP would welcome Obi but emphasized that his supporters must formally join the party first before any talks could take place.
“Obi’s people came to us to say if Obi comes, would you take him? Of course, we told them: ‘Yes’. I was in that meeting. Some of them are with us saying that they are preparing the ground but you have to join SDP. 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,” Agunloye clarified. However, he acknowledged that Obi has yet to make an official declaration regarding his plans, and it remains unclear whether he will join the SDP or stay with the Labour Party.
The political landscape in Nigeria is rapidly evolving, with key players from the 2023 election positioning themselves for the upcoming 2027 race. The formation of a political coalition, announced on March 20, 2025, is aimed at unseating the incumbent, President Bola Tinubu, whose administration has faced growing criticism due to the country’s economic struggles, including soaring inflation and high cost of living. The coalition, which includes figures like Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, as well as Peter Obi and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, is looking to build on the combined 12 million votes that Atiku and Obi garnered in the last election, a figure well above the 8 million votes received by Tinubu, who was declared the winner.
Despite the tensions and unresolved crises within the PDP and Labour Party, including leadership disputes and allegations of internal mistreatment, many politicians are now eyeing the SDP as a potential political home. According to Agunloye, the SDP’s doors are open to all who seek to join, although he emphasized that the party would not let newcomers overtake existing members but would instead find ways to collaborate and leverage the experience of both groups for the party’s collective benefit.
“We will not allow people to come and sweep the people out from the place. We must synergize; we must maximize the opportunities because these are people with a lot of experience,” Agunloye remarked, referencing the potential contributions of experienced politicians like Nasir El-Rufai. He also pointed out that these individuals bring valuable resources, such as political expertise and financial backing, which could help the SDP’s cause.
El-Rufai’s defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP has already sparked significant interest in the party, with several of his former associates and commissioners reportedly joining the ranks. Agunloye confirmed that prominent figures, including former APC members like El-Rufai and Hamza Al-Mustapha, have already joined the SDP, signaling a growing trend of political re-alignments.
“There is a lot of excitement now in SDP because of these high-profile defections. People are calling us, asking how they can join, and our membership is growing. However, Agunloye cautioned that while many new faces are expressing interest, they must first follow the party’s official processes before being fully admitted,” he said.
Agunloye also touched on the potential for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to join the SDP, but he made it clear that Atiku, with whom he shares a longstanding relationship, had not officially expressed any intentions to do so. “I’ve been hearing that Atiku is coming. Atiku and I are friends since the time he was vice president. He still spoke to me about one week or less ago; he didn’t say: ‘I am coming’,” Agunloye revealed. Despite this, the notion of Atiku joining the SDP remains a subject of speculation, as the political climate in the PDP continues to remain unstable.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Agunloye expressed confidence in the SDP’s ability to make significant strides, regardless of which high-profile politicians decide to join the party. The SDP, he said, already has a broad presence in all 774 local government areas across Nigeria, which positions it well for the forthcoming election.
“The SDP is prepared, and we are determined to make the most of our platform. We believe in our vision for Nigeria, and we are ready to offer a credible alternative to the people. As long as new aspirants come with respect and commitment to the party’s growth, we will work together to achieve our common goal,” Agunloye concluded.
With two years left until the 2027 elections, the race for the presidency is already heating up, and the SDP’s role in the political process is becoming clearer. As the political landscape shifts, Nigeria’s electorate will be closely watching how these developments unfold, especially with the possibility of former figures like Obi and Atiku reshaping their political affiliations. The next two years promise to be an exciting period in Nigerian politics as new alliances and rivalries are formed, and the battle for the nation’s top seat intensifies.
