The former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Adewole Adebayo, has claimed it’s already guaranteed that President Bola Tinubu will be removed from power come 2027.

Adebayo also claimed that his party – SDP – will produce the next Nigerian President.

He stated this on Friday while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme.

The statement comes just a few days after the former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, joined the SDP.

Adebayo described El-Rufai as a hard working and patriotic Nigerian, adding that the ex-Governor is very effective in an area where we don’t have effective people in government.

He said: “The reason why I welcome El-Rufai to my party is that I see him as a patriotic Nigerian, hard working, very effective in an area where we don’t have effective people in government, that’s all.

“Tinubu is going to be removed from power, that one is sure, and there will be an SDP president.

As a coalition and all of that, it is not inside our party. Maybe it’s people that are having discussion outside, and after having their discussion, they feel that they can come to the SDP and try to work within the SDP. But in SDP, we are following our program as before.

“We knew that when they were ganging up and going to Chatham House they will not last. We knew that when they started sharing the spoil of office, they will be scattered. We knew that the programs that all of them had will not work for the people out there, they will lose popularity.

“So we started preparing our party. We have no crisis and started managing our party. When they were offering position we didn’t want to join them. We remained where we are, keep talking to the people. Many more will join us as the year goes by”.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has reaffirmed Dr. Olu Agunloye

’s position as its National Secretary, dispelling speculations of an internal crisis following the defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to the party.

In a statement released after its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025, the party leadership clarified that the entry of new members, including El-Rufai, does not pose a threat to its existing leadership structure. The committee dismissed any claims that Agunloye was being forced out, condemning recent protests calling for his removal.

The SDP emphasized that all current NWC members were duly elected at the party’s 2022 National Convention and would serve their full four-year term until 2026 unless removed through a formal convention process. The leadership further stated that no executive member would be displaced due to new entrants joining the party.

Addressing Agunloye’s ongoing legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the 2003 Federal Executive Council approval of the Mambilla Power Project, the party reiterated that an accused person remains innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.

Speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Friday, the SDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Chief Adewole Adebayo, echoed the party’s position, affirming Agunloye’s contributions to the party’s stability and national interest. He recalled that Agunloye, a former National Chairman, had voluntarily stepped down to assume the role of National Secretary in the party’s best interest.

Meanwhile, Agunloye has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over alleged efforts to pressure him into resigning, even as he welcomed El-Rufai’s defection, stating it would add value to the party.

The SDP reaffirmed its commitment to internal democracy and adherence to constitutional provisions, assuring members and the public of its dedication to best democratic practices.

The immediate past Secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG), Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, and the former Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Muhammad Diggol, recently visited Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin in Abuja.

Barau, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), shared photos of the meeting on his official Facebook page, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for sustainable development.

He stated: “The development of our state and the country is always at the top of our agenda. We will continue to collaborate with other stakeholders to advance our state and nation.”

The meeting is seen as part of ongoing political engagements to shape Kano State’s development, with reactions emerging regarding the APC leader’s interaction with key figures from the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).