The Presidency and key political figures have dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu is financially backing the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following the recent defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to the opposition party.
The controversy erupted after Joe Igbokwe, a Lagos-based All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, alleged on Facebook that Tinubu secretly controlled the SDP, linking it to his political past.
“If the SDP is still relevant in Nigeria, understand this: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the owner.
“Ignore him at your peril,” Igbokwe wrote, referencing Tinubu’s membership in the party during the 1993 era of Chief MKO Abiola.
As public reactions intensified, Igbokwe reiterated his stance, citing Tinubu’s role as a senator under the SDP in the 1990s as proof of his continued influence.
However, SDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, dismissed Igbokwe’s assertion, questioning his credibility.
“Who is he? I don’t know him. I have never met him. Has he ever held a political office? Maybe he’s just making noise,” Adebayo said.
The Presidency also denied any connection between Tinubu and the opposition party.
Presidential Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, told Punch that Tinubu remains loyal to the APC and has never been involved in leading another party.
“Asiwaju is a member and leader of the APC, serving as president on that platform. From AD to ACN and now APC, he has never moved to the SDP,” Bwala emphasized
