Former Kaduna Central lawmaker Shehu Sani has expressed surprise at the political defection of Yunusa Tanko, who has left Peter Obi’s camp to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Sani, a prominent voice in northern Nigerian politics, questioned the circumstances that led to Tanko’s departure from the former Labour Party presidential candidate’s orbit.
In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Wednesday, Sani highlighted Tanko’s previous dedication to Obi’s cause. "What must have happened for Yunusa to part ways with Dr Peter? Anyway, nothing is impossible in politics," Sani wrote, noting that no one in the region north of the River Niger had fanatically defended and promoted Obi as vigorously as Tanko had.
Tanko’s shift in allegiance follows his significant roles in the 2023 presidential election, where he served as the Media Director of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation and as Obi’s spokesman. His close association with Obi was further cemented in September 2024 when he was appointed as the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement worldwide.
The political move was formalized on Wednesday in Abuja, where Tanko was unveiled as the National Coordinator of the SDP Presidential Campaign Council. In this new capacity, he will lead the campaign for Adewole Adebayo’s presidential ambitions in the 2027 general elections.
Sani’s reaction underscores the volatility of Nigerian political alliances, particularly as key figures realign ahead of the next electoral cycle. The transition of a high-profile supporter like Tanko from the Labour Party to the SDP marks a notable development in the landscape of the 2027 race.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
