Obi’s former ally Yunusa Tanko is now national coordinator of SDP’s 2027 presidential campaign

Yunusa Tanko, the former National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, has taken a new role with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), weeks after leaving Peter Obi's team, according to Leadership.

Tanko said he resigned on October 30, 2026 as political adviser on Northern Nigeria to Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He said he formally told both Obi and the NDC national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, of his decision.

On Wednesday, the SDP inaugurated a 12,000-member National Campaign Council in Abuja and presented Tanko as its National Coordinator. Among the frontline candidates introduced to lead the grassroots effort was a former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who is the party's governorship candidate in Nasarawa State.

Tanko thanked the party leadership for the confidence placed in him and pledged to build a formidable campaign organisation that can advance the SDP's objectives and win electoral support nationwide. He described the SDP as a left-wing, people-oriented party committed to the interests of disadvantaged Nigerians, and expressed confidence in the Adebayo ticket to reposition the country.

He also announced his return to the National Consultative Forum, where he said he will serve as co-chair with Prince Adewale Adebayo. He described their renewed working relationship as a continuation of an association dating back to 2023, and insisted that the move was not a mistake but part of a long-standing political partnership.

Tanko said his political commitment remains anchored on good governance, justice, equity, national loyalty and dedication to moving the country away from what he called its current state of decline. He also thanked Dickson for the support he received during his time as coordinator of the Obidient Movement.

The SDP's National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, who also chairs the council, said the inauguration marked a shift from preparation to structured electoral engagement across the federation. He said the council would merge the party's campaign structures with those of its presidential candidate.

The move is a notable change of side for one of the most visible organisers of the Obidient base in the North, and it will be watched closely by supporters of both parties.