APC chieftain claims Tinubu controls SDP amidst El-Rufai’s defection

A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has stirred controversy by alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu owns the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

His claim comes in the wake of the defection of a founding member of the APC and former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who recently announced his departure from the ruling party to join the SDP.

El-Rufai, in a statement released on Monday, March 10, 2025, declared his resignation from the APC, citing dissatisfaction with the party’s current leadership.

He criticized the inability of the party’s controllers to address what he described as an unhealthy internal situation, prompting his decision to move to the SDP.

Reacting to this development, Igbokwe took to his official Facebook page to assert that the SDP remains under the influence of President Tinubu.

His remarks have since sparked debates about the true independence of the opposition party and its potential role in Nigeria’s political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.

READ ALSO: Why I dumped APC for SDP—El-Rufai

In his social media post, Igbokwe warned political figures nursing presidential ambitions under the SDP to recognize Tinubu’s alleged control over the party.

“If indeed SDP is still alive and kicking in Nigeria, then know the truth and have inner peace: PBAT (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu) is the owner. Ignore him to your own peril,” he wrote.

He further drew historical references to the SDP’s legacy, recalling the party’s prominence in the 1993 elections and the role of the late Chief MKO Abiola.

In another post, Igbokwe reinforced his claim by pointing to Tinubu’s political history, stating that the President had been a Senator under the SDP in 1993.

He urged Nigerians to “investigate and verify” the connection, implying that Tinubu’s historical ties to the party extend to an ongoing influence.

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Igbokwe’s assertion has added another layer of complexity to the political landscape as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 elections.

His claims suggest that even as El-Rufai positions himself as a key player in the SDP, the party might still be indirectly linked to the ruling APC through Tinubu’s influence.

While neither Tinubu nor the SDP leadership has officially responded to these claims, the allegations raise questions about the independence of political movements in Nigeria and the extent of the President’s reach within opposition structures.

As political realignments continue, the coming months will reveal whether the SDP emerges as a genuine alternative to the APC or if, as Igbokwe suggests, it remains under Tinubu’s strategic control.