The Presidency and key political figures have refuted claims that President Bola Tinubu is financially supporting the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following the recent defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to the opposition party.
The speculation began after Joe Igbokwe, a Lagos-based chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggested in a Facebook post that Tinubu had significant control over the SDP, citing his past involvement with the party.
“If the SDP is still active in Nigeria, be aware of this truth: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu owns it.
“Disregard him at your own risk,” Igbokwe claimed, alluding to Tinubu’s affiliation with the SDP during the 1993 political era of Chief MKO Abiola.
As debates around the claim grew, Igbokwe doubled down on his stance, pointing to Tinubu’s tenure as a senator under the SDP in the 1990s as supposed evidence of his continued influence over the party.
However, Adewole Adebayo, the SDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, dismissed the allegations, questioning Igbokwe’s credibility.
“Who is he? I don’t know him. I have never met him. Has he ever held any political office in Nigeria? He might just be speaking without facts,” Adebayo said.
Meanwhile, the Presidency also denied any ties between Tinubu and the SDP. Presidential Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, told Punch that Tinubu remains fully committed to the APC and has no involvement in the leadership of any other political party.
“Asiwaju is a dedicated member and leader of the APC, serving as president under its platform.
“From his days in AD to ACN and now APC, he has never joined the SDP,” Bwala affirmed.