The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, has called on opposition parties to unite behind a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election, saying the outcome of the Osun State governorship election has demonstrated that a united opposition can defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Gombe made the call on Monday at a press conference held at the SDP national secretariat in Abuja, where he said the victory of the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, despite what he described as pressure and intimidation, offered an important lesson for opposition parties.
According to him, the Osun election showed that voters could resist political pressure when opposition forces effectively mobilise around a common objective.
“The important lesson to be learnt here is that there is hope if all opposition parties come together and present a single candidate to face the APC in the 2027 general elections. This was evident in what happened at Osun.
“Despite all the mounting pressure, gang-up and alignment by APC governors and bigwigs, Osun people stood their ground,” Gombe said.
SDP Defends Performance
The SDP chairman also dismissed concerns over the party’s performance in the Osun governorship election, saying the result did not reflect the party’s actual strength or level of acceptance among voters.
He attributed the poor showing to legal battles surrounding the party’s governorship candidate and the late recognition of the candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Adeleke was declared winner of the election held across the state on Saturday, polling 403,371 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 394,684 votes.
Gombe, however, said the major lesson from the election was the ability of opposition forces to challenge the APC when individual political interests were subordinated to a common goal.
Gombe Backs Adebayo for 2027
The SDP chairman also endorsed the party’s presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, describing him as the candidate best positioned to lead an opposition coalition against the APC in 2027.
“The SDP, whether people like it or not, presents the best presidential candidate for 2027 in terms of capacity, knowledge of Nigeria, competence and humility in its mission,” he said.
Gombe urged other opposition parties to consider backing Adebayo in the interest of Nigerians.
“This can only happen if the opposition can come and back someone like him for the sake of the common man. Just as it happened in Osun, we are calling for the coalition of the people to salvage this country.
“And I can assure them, they are not going to regret the best candidate we have presented,” he added.
The SDP’s call comes amid renewed efforts by opposition politicians and groups to forge a common front against President Bola Tinubu and the APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Pressure Mounts for Opposition Alliance
The proposal for a single opposition presidential candidate has continued to generate debate among political parties, with various opposition leaders expressing divergent positions on the modalities of a possible alliance.
The latest push followed a call by the Group of 100 prominent Nigerians, led by former APC chieftain Salisu Lukman, for opposition presidential candidates and political leaders to close ranks ahead of the 2027 election.
The group urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and their respective running mates, Rotimi Amaechi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, alongside other opposition candidates, to subordinate individual ambitions to the broader objective of challenging the APC-led Federal Government.
The G-100 argued that a divided opposition, regardless of its numerical strength, would struggle to defeat the ruling party, insisting that a single presidential candidate would provide the best opportunity to consolidate opposition votes in 2027.
