The Social Democratic Party has appointed former spokesman for Peter Obi and immediate past National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, as National Coordinator of its Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tanko was unveiled to the party’s National Working Committee, chieftains, stakeholders and supporters on Wednesday during the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council at the SDP national secretariat in Abuja.
Also present at the unveiling ceremony were the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, and other chieftains of the Julius Abure-led faction of the party.
His appointment comes barely two weeks after he resigned as Obi’s Political Adviser for Northern Nigeria, a position he assumed following his removal as the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement in October.
Tanko, who also served as chairman and coordinator of the Obidient Movement, announced his resignation as Obi’s political adviser on October 30, 2026, saying he was returning to the National Consultative Front, where he serves as co-chairman.
In his acceptance speech at the SDP event, Tanko expressed appreciation to the party’s leadership for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to work with its presidential candidate, Prince Adewale Adebayo, towards securing victory in the 2027 election.
He described the SDP as a left-wing, people-oriented political party committed to defending the interests of disadvantaged Nigerians.
“The SDP is a left-wing political party. For those of you who do not know, we represent the interests of the downtrodden. The SDP represents those people that you neglect on the streets. So, that makes this particular party people-oriented.
“I express my profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to Almighty Allah for making this historic event possible. I equally thank the leadership of the Social Democratic Party for the confidence and repose in me by appointing me as the National Coordinator of the SDP Presidential Campaign Organisation for the 2027 Presidential Election,” he said.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding his return to the NCFront, Tanko recalled that he assumed a leadership position in the organisation on October 18, following the death of its late co-chairman and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba.
Na’Abba had co-chaired the NCFront leadership with Professor Pat Utomi.
Tanko said his new appointment provided an opportunity to return to the political platform he helped build and contribute to its mission of serving Nigerians.
“It will be recalled that this historic appointment comes on the heels of the assumption of my new role in the leadership of the National Consultative Front on the 18th of October 2026 to fill the vacuum created by the demise of the late Rt Hon Ghali Na’Abba, former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, who co-chaired the leadership of the NCFront with Professor Pat Utomi.
“It is therefore with appreciation that I receive the invitation of the NC Front recalling me back, back to the house in which we helped to build for a new assignment that will service the Nigerian people,” he said.
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The former Obidient Movement coordinator disclosed that he had formally resigned his appointment with Obi before accepting the SDP offer.
He said, “I tendered my resignation on the 30th of October 2026 as the political advisor to His Excellency Mr Peter Obi, to represent Northern Nigeria.
“I have since reached out to His Excellency Mr Peter Obi and the National Leader of the National Democratic Congress, Senator Seriake Dickson, whom I must confirm did a very good job by receiving me when I was the Chairman and Coordinator of the Obidient Movement.”
Tanko pledged to work closely with the NCFront leadership and Adebayo, insisting that his relationship with the SDP presidential candidate predated his latest appointment.
“Therefore, I wish to accept the new role with humility and total commitment to work wholeheartedly with my compatriot in the National Consultative Front and the SDP Presidential Candidate, His Excellency, Prince Adewale Adebayo.
“This is not a mistake in history. When you go back into history, you will see my warm relationship with him way back in 2023. So this is a relationship that has long been built. In advancing our political mission to a new Nigeria that works for all, I pledge to remain consistent and committed to our unwavering belief in good governance, justice, equity, national loyalty and dedication and unwavering commitment to new Nigeria from where it is to a better and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
Tanko’s appointment marks another shift in his political journey, having previously played a prominent role in Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign and the mobilisation of supporters under the Obidient Movement.
In September 2024, Obi appointed him as the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement worldwide, following a consensus arrangement to zone the position to Northern Nigeria.
Before then, Tanko had served as Obi’s spokesman and media director of the defunct Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation.
A former Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council in 2015, Tanko later joined the National Conscience Party, under which he contested the 2019 presidential election.
However, on October 1, 2026, Obi announced Tanko’s removal as the Obidient Movement’s National Coordinator and appointed him as his Political Adviser for Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.
Although Tanko publicly thanked Obi and members of the movement while accepting the new assignment, reports from his camp subsequently suggested dissatisfaction with what some supporters perceived as a demotion after years of loyalty to the former Anambra State governor.
His exit came barely three months after another loyalist, Nana Kazaure, dumped the NDC presidential candidate to join the campaign team of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
