Following the defection of the former governor of Kaduna State and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Malam Nasir El-Rufai to the Social Democratic Party, SDP, the ex-Presidential flagbearer of the party in the 2023 general election, Barrister Adewole Adebayo said, he will be the party’s candidate in 2027.

Adewole stated this amid speculations that El-Rufai defecting to the party may want to highjack the leadership to supplant to presidential candidate in the 2027 election that would stop President Bola Tinubu from second term of office.

Adewole, speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Friday, March 14, 2025, said he is not intimidated by the heavy weight politicians defectring into the party.

When asked if he’s worried about the ‘heavy-weight’ politicians joining the SDP, Adewole said he is not worried by the claim that the high-profile politicians defecting to the party can push him aside.

El-Rufai said he defected to the SDP as a result of APC’s lack of leadership sincerity, accusing APC leaders of fuelling their selfish ambition against the yearnings of Nigerians.
Since last week that El-Rufai defected, he has been rallying round other topnotch political office holders to join him in SDP with a view to form alliance ahead of 2027 to stop the ruling APC which he insisted has derailed.

But Adebayo said: “Let us understand something. I don’t worry about that; everybody who is coming in knows I will run in 2027.”

He added, “Any coward who will feel threatened by people coming to his party can not be president.”

Adewole also said President Bola Tinubu will be defeated in 2027, and an SDP president will emerge.

“Tinubu is going to be removed from power, that one is sure, and there would be an SDP president,” he asserted.

On coalition, he said the SDP is not yet discussing alliances with any party, adding that political parties that want a coalition can approach the party.

The Concerned PDP League (CPDPL) has raised the alarm over what it describes as a calculated and deliberate smear campaign against the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

According to the group, the campaign is aimed at setting President Bola Tinubu against the Minister.

The group specifically pointed an accusing finger at activist Barr. Deji Adeyanju.

In a statement jointly signed by the League’s National Secretary, Alhaji Tasiu Makila Muhammad, and its Acting Director of Publicity, Comrade Justina D. Dashi, the group alleged that Adeyanju has taken over the role of critic from Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, whom they accused of sponsoring baseless press conferences against the FCT Minister.

“Recall that Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere has benefited from sponsorship to fuel his propaganda campaign against the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, by the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Sim Fubara. Since the political tension in Rivers State began, Ugochinyere has exploited the situation for personal gain. However, our apex leader and group have consistently exposed his lies and propaganda, making Nigerians take his press conferences with a pinch of salt. But now, it appears there is a transition from him to Adeyanju.

“We have reliably gathered that Deji Adeyanju, either personally or through a proxy, is preparing to address a ‘State of the Nation’ press conference titled Akpabio vs. Natasha and Other Matters Arising at his Wuse 2 office at 9 AM tomorrow, Friday, March 14, 2025. However, he deliberately excluded the Rivers State issue from the announcement, despite planning to focus on it during the briefing. This is because the Rivers State Governor is allegedly funding the event.

“Nigerians may recall that the FCT Minister previously exposed Adeyanju’s hypocrisy, revealing how he once begged Wike to appoint him as the PDP National Publicity Secretary (NPS). Wike, in his characteristic manner, refused, stating that Adeyanju lacked the capacity for the position. That rejection was a major blow to Adeyanju, and since then, he has been determined to castigate Wike while working tirelessly to turn President Tinubu against him. His upcoming press conference is part of that agenda.

“We want to assure Adeyanju that his planned press conference, which he has misleadingly titled Akpabio vs. Natasha and Other Matters Arising but is actually meant to attack the FCT Minister, will be inconsequential and has already failed.

“Therefore, we urge Nigerians and the general public to disregard Adeyanju’s sponsored press conference tomorrow, which is aimed at tarnishing the Minister’s image before President Tinubu and the public. We also advise the Rivers State Governor that sponsoring propagandists and commercial activists will not improve his situation—one that Ugochinyere, his associates, and newfound allies have placed him in,” the statement read.

A retired military officer, Colonel Gbenga Adegbola, along with over 13,000 supporters from Oyo State, has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

The new entrants were received by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) at the party headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Receiving the new party members, the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Umar Ganduje, unveiled the party’s blueprint for the South West, which he referred to as the winning formula of “political homogeneity.” He expressed optimism that the APC would take over the South West in 2027.

He said, “Our blueprint for the South West geo-political zone for 2027 is tagged ‘political homogeneity.’ In other words, for the South West, according to our blueprint, we will work hard, and with the help of Allah (SWT) and the people of the state, Oyo will be an APC state in 2027.

“Other states in the zone that are not yet under our control—Osun State, In Sha Allah—will also become APC states. That is what we mean by political homogeneity.”

Addressing newsmen at the media centre shortly after his reception into the party, Adegbola stated that he was ready to leverage his wealth of experience to contribute meaningfully to the progress of the APC.

He expressed his commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ programme and also affirmed that they (the new entrants) would work hard to ensure that Oyo State joins the ruling party by 2027.

He said, “I am wholeheartedly and highly committed to the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President. We will do everything possible to ensure that Oyo State becomes an APC state by 2027.

“We will put in all humanly possible efforts, by the special grace of God, to reach every nook and cranny of Oyo State. We have received assurances from the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

“He has given us his word and encouragement. That is why we thank the Almighty God for bringing us this far. In due course, you will be hearing more from us. I also want to thank the Oyo State executives who accompanied me to my reception by the NWC of our party.”

Adegbola was accompanied to the reception by members of the Oyo State Executive Committee of the APC, former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Tukur Buratai, former Minister of Communication Barr. Adebayo Shittu, and several party leaders from Oyo North.