The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by Chief Wole Adesina, has issued a stern warning against what it describes as two unfolding threats to the party’s integrity and national unity. In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Alfa Mohammed, criticised a growing coalition of aggrieved politicians allegedly seeking to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu without presenting any concrete alternative plan for Nigeria’s development.
Mohammed said, “The influx of some aggrieved politicians in a desperate coalition to ‘send President Bola Ahmed Tinubu back to Lagos’ without showcasing any clear-cut alternative agenda for Nigeria’s transformation is disturbing and must be rejected.” He emphasised that the SDP was “not for sale or lease to any group” and would not participate in what he called “anti-government plots or coalitions” lacking vision or direction.
Party Integrity Under Threat
The Adesina-led SDP NEC voiced concern about the illegal removal of constitutionally recognised state executives within the party. According to the statement, this has been orchestrated by the coalition group, working in concert with a rival SDP faction. The committee described the action as unlawful and a clear violation of the party’s constitution and democratic norms.
Mohammed drew parallels between the current crisis and the events of 2019, when former PDP members, led by Professor Jerry Gana, attempted to seize control of the party. That episode, he recalled, forced the resignation of then-National Chairman Olu Falae and left the SDP embroiled in lingering legal battles.
Support for Constructive Governance
While distancing the party from any moves to destabilise the federal government, the NEC under Chief Adesina pledged to maintain a constructive engagement with the Tinubu-led administration. Mohammed reiterated that the SDP would continue to hold the government accountable to the electorate but condemned any collaboration that might undermine the democratic mandate given to Tinubu during the 2023 general elections. “We are committed to holding the government accountable, but not at the expense of national unity or by aligning with opportunistic alliances that lack credible blueprints for Nigeria’s future,” he added.
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Warning to Usurpers and Call for Calm
The NEC also sounded a clear warning to individuals attempting to “usurp leadership positions” across state chapters of the SDP. Mohammed urged state and local party leaders to report such incidents to law enforcement and relevant authorities, while encouraging them to stand firm in defence of legitimate leadership structures.
He also called on party members and the public to remain calm as the party continues its legal and political efforts to reclaim full recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We leave the doors of the SDP open to genuinely intentioned new members who share in our values and vision, but we reject those whose motives are rooted in personal vendetta or ambition,” Mohammed concluded.
National Implications
The unfolding tensions within the SDP reflect broader uncertainties in Nigeria’s post-2023 political climate, as rival factions, coalitions, and former power brokers jostle for influence ahead of the 2027 elections. While some see Tinubu’s government as vulnerable due to economic and security challenges, others argue that undermining a sitting president without a solid plan could further destabilise Nigeria’s fragile democratic gains.
For now, the Adesina-led SDP faction appears resolute in distancing itself from what it views as politically motivated opportunism disguised as opposition — insisting that credible governance demands not just critique but vision, policy, and integrity.
