Former National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Tanko Yunusa, has resigned as political adviser to Peter Obi and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential campaign as its National Coordinator ahead of the 2027 elections.
Yunusa announced his decision on Wednesday at the unveiling of the SDP National Campaign Council, where he disclosed that he submitted his resignation letter on October 30 after accepting the new appointment.
He said he had formally informed Obi and the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) about his decision.
His defection marks another significant political shift involving a prominent figure from Obi’s support base as the SDP intensifies preparations for the 2027 presidential contest.
Only on October 1, Yunusa announced his resignation as National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement to take up an appointment as Obi’s political adviser for Northern Nigeria.
He had explained that the new assignment required his full attention and named Dr Moses Paul, popularly known as Dr Mo, as his successor in the movement.
However, Yunusa has now taken a different political direction, returning to the National Consultative Front (NCFront), where he assumed a leadership responsibility following the death of former House of Representatives Speaker, Ghali Umar Na’Abba.
Describing his latest assignment as a call to national service, Yunusa said his immediate priority would be to build a formidable nationwide campaign structure for the SDP.
He said the organisation would extend from the national headquarters to states, local governments and wards, with emphasis on grassroots mobilisation, membership databases and coordinated political engagement.
He also called on SDP leaders and members to close ranks behind the party’s presidential ticket of Adewole Adebayo and Usman Bugaje, stressing the need for discipline, unity and a clearly defined message.
Explaining what continues to drive his political involvement, Yunusa recalled that members of his family had questioned his commitment to political activities.
But he said his response had always been rooted in his sense of responsibility to the country.
“Nigeria gave me everything I want in life,” he said.
Yunusa’s appointment places a former leading figure in the Obidient Movement at the heart of the SDP’s 2027 campaign machinery, potentially giving the party access to his experience in political mobilisation and grassroots organisation.