The Social Democratic Party in South-West, on Saturday, dissociated itself from the recent coalition of opposition parties.
This was made known by the Chairman of Chairmen of the party in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Femi Olaniyi, popularly known as Ferrari, at the South-West Stakeholders’ meeting, held at the party’s secretariat in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
He explained that instead, the party is focusing on developing a strategy to dislodge the All Progressives Congress at all levels of governance in the 2027 general elections.
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This decision was reached at a meeting attended by prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party’s 2023 Presidential candidate Peter Obi; former Senate President, David Mark; former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai among others.
However, Olaniyi emphasized that the SDP in the region would not be part of any coalition at the moment.
The chairman stated that no decision could be made on the matter without directives from the National Working Committee, and the party is still waiting for the NWC’s stance on the coalition.
Olaniyi, who also doubles as Lagos State Chairman of the party, assured party members that the NWC will guide and assist each state with membership cards, registers, and other necessary materials at the appropriate time.
He also emphasized the unity among leaders and stakeholders in the region, promising to rescue Nigeria from the current administration and bring a formidable government in 2027.
“We discussed about the challenges, progress and the coalition at our meeting. We have seen how everything is being played out in our party. So, we need to brief our members, especially our stakeholders in the region.
“In the six states of Ondo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Oyo, respectively. We have been asking a series of questions regarding this so-called coalition, and we just called our people to intimate our resolve not to be part of any coalition at the moment.
“We make them to understand that no part of SDP in the region that joins the coalition.
“Nobody can take any decision on this coalition except the directive from our NWC. So, we are still waiting for our NWC to come up with its own stand and everything regarding this coalition. As it stands now, there is nothing like a coalition in SDP,” he insisted.
The chairman allayed the fear of party members on the various challenges confronting them in their respective states, saying, “The NWC has promised to guide us and assist each state with membership cards, register and every other thing at the appropriate time.”
Olaniyi maintained that there is unity among the leaders and all the stakeholders in the region as they always speak with one voice for the progress of the party.
“In 2027, we will rescue Nigeria from the current administration, bring a formidable government and show all Nigerians a true and real democracy,” he added.
Also speaking, a current serving lawmaker representing Ise-Orun Constituency in the Ekiti State House of Assembly under the SDP, Babatunde Omotayo, also corroborated the party chairman, saying “We are here to resolve some issues. We resolved issues and dialogued for the development of our party- SDP.
“The most important among what we discussed was how we can remain one and speak with one voice to move the party forward in the region. So, SDP as a political party doesn’t have plan to join the so called coalition,” he maintained.
Dignitaries at the meeting were Chairman of Chairmen, also the convener, and Lagos State Chairman, Femi Olaniyi (Ferrari); the host Chairman (Oyo), Okunlade Michael; (Ondo), Gbenga Akinbuli; (Ogun), Yinka Ola-Williams; (Osun), Yinus Gbadamosi; (Ekiti), Ayodele Bamikole; the Deputy National Woman Leader of SDP, Bosede Mercy Ilesanmi; a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Babatunde Omotayo and a host of others
