Get Guardian on GoogleAdebayo warns APC against intolerance, dictatorship
Former national coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Tanko Yunusa, has resigned as Peter Obi’s Political Adviser and taken up a new role as National Coordinator of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2027 presidential campaign.
Meanwhile, SDP presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, warned against alleged dictatorial tendencies and growing political intolerance under the All Progressives Congress (APC), cautioning that attempts to restrict opposition activities could undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
Yunusa announced his resignation at the unveiling of the SDP’s National Campaign Council, saying he submitted a letter to that effect on October 30 after accepting the campaign appointment.
He said he had informed Obi and the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The move marks a fresh shift in Yunusa’s political role. On October 1, he announced that he had stepped down as Obidient Movement national coordinator and accepted an appointment as Obi’s Political Adviser for Northern Nigeria. He said then that the regional role required his full attention and named Dr Moses Paul, popularly known as Dr Mo, as his successor in the movement.
Now, Yunusa says he is returning to the National Consultative Front (NCFront), where he has taken up a leadership role following the death of former House of Representatives Speaker, Ghali Na’Abba.
Describing his new SDP assignment as a call to national service, Yunusa said his priority would be to build a nationwide campaign organisation, with structures reaching wards, local councils, states and the national level.
The effort, he said, would involve mobilising supporters, building a database and strengthening the party’s grassroots presence.
SPEAKING at the unveiling of SDP’s National Campaign Council at its national secretariat in Abuja, where party leaders and candidates gathered to strategise ahead of the 2027 general elections, Adebayo expressed concern over allegations that campaign flyers, posters and billboards belonging to opposition parties in Adamawa State and parts of the country were being removed or restricted, insisting that all political parties must be allowed to freely promote their candidates, programmes and ideas.
He said any government seeking to prevent opposition parties from selling their political ideas to Nigerians was exhibiting dangerous signs of intolerance that should not be taken lightly.
According to him, democracy thrives on the freedom of political parties to canvass support, present alternative policies and compete for the mandate of citizens without intimidation or obstruction.
He warned that attempts to suppress opposition voices could undermine democratic participation, weaken public confidence in the electoral process and threaten the country’s political stability.
