SDP Appoints Ex-Obi Adviser Tanko as 2027 Campaign Chief

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has appointed Yunusa Tanko as the National Coordinator of its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections. The announcement was made on Wednesday during the inauguration of the campaign team at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. Tanko was welcomed by the SDP’s National Working Committee, party chieftains, and supporters. He replaces the immediate past National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, a political group that mobilized support for Peter Obi’s presidential bid.

Tanko’s appointment follows his resignation on October 30, 2026, from his role as Peter Obi’s Political Adviser for Northern Nigeria. Obi, now the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), had appointed Tanko to that position in October 2026 after removing him from his previous role as Obidient Movement coordinator. Tanko stated that he had formally tendered his resignation before accepting the SDP offer. He also confirmed that he had notified both Obi and NDC National Leader Senator Seriake Dickson of his decision to join the SDP campaign team.

In his acceptance speech, Tanko described the SDP as a left-wing, people-oriented party. He emphasized the party's commitment to defending the interests of disadvantaged Nigerians. "The SDP represents those people that you neglect on the streets," Tanko told the audience, according to reports from Punch. He added that this focus makes the party "people-oriented." He pledged to work closely with the SDP’s presidential candidate, Prince Adewale Adebayo, to secure victory in the upcoming election. Tanko highlighted his long-standing relationship with Adebayo, noting that their political connection dates back to 2023.

Tanko’s move adds to a series of departures from Peter Obi’s political orbit since the 2023 general election. Premium Times reported that several prominent figures, including Kenneth Okonkwo and Doyin Okupe, have previously resigned from the Labour Party or Obi’s campaign structures. Some former campaign staff have even joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). Tanko’s experience in grassroots mobilization and his role as a former national coordinator of the Obidient Movement are seen as significant assets for the SDP. His departure marks a shift in the political landscape as parties prepare for the 2027 elections. Tanko also mentioned his return to the National Consultative Front, a platform he helps co-chair following the death of co-chairman Ghali Na’Abba in October 2026.