On Monday, March 10, Joe Igbokwe, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made a bold claim that President Bola Tinubu owns the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
His comments came in response to the defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, from the APC to the SDP.
El-Rufai, in his announcement, explained that his decision was due to the failure of the current APC leadership to address the party’s internal challenges.
Reacting to El-Rufai’s move, Igbokwe took to his official Facebook page, advising those considering running for president under the SDP in 2027 to be aware of Tinubu’s control over the party.
“If indeed SDP is still alive and kicking in Nigeria, then know the truth and have inner peace: PBAT is the owner. Ignore him to your own peril,” Igbokwe wrote, referencing President Tinubu by his initials. He also recalled the history of SDP in 1993, mentioning the late Chief MKO Abiola as a prominent figure associated with the party.
In a follow-up post, Igbokwe emphasized that Tinubu was once a senator under the SDP in 1993, stating, “Go and investigate and verify. He is the owner of SDP.” His comments have sparked further discussion about the evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
