Osun poll shows opposition needs single candidate to defeat Tinubu – SDP

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) believes the outcome of the Osun State governorship election highlights the necessity for opposition parties to coalesce behind a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. Professor Sadiq Gombe, the National Chairman of the SDP, stated that the victory of the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, despite facing pressure and intimidation, demonstrates that a unified opposition can effectively challenge the ruling party.

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The important lesson to be learnt here is that there is hope if all opposition parties come together and present a single candidate to face the APC in 2027 general elections.

Gombe, speaking at a press conference in Abuja, clarified that the SDP's less-than-stellar performance in the election was not indicative of its true strength. He attributed this to ongoing legal battles concerning the party's governorship candidate and the Independent National Electoral Commission's delayed recognition of that candidate.

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Despite all the mounting pressure, gang-up and alignment by APC governors and bigwigs, Osun people stood their ground.

Adeleke secured victory in the Osun State governorship election, defeating his closest rival, the APC candidate, by a margin of 8,687 votes. Gombe emphasized that the most crucial lesson from this election is that opposition parties can pose a significant threat to the All Progressives Congress (APC) if they set aside individual interests and rally behind a common candidate. "The important lesson to be learnt here is that there is hope if all opposition parties come together and present a single candidate to face the APC in 2027 general elections," Gombe asserted.

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The SDP, whether people like it or not, presents the best presidential candidate for 2027 in terms of capacity, knowledge of Nigeria, competence and humility in its mission to rescue the country.

He also expressed strong support for the SDP's presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, arguing that the party is capable of providing the leadership needed to defeat the APC in 2027. Gombe called for a coalition of the people to "salvage this country," assuring potential allies that they would not regret backing Adebayo. This call for a united opposition comes amid ongoing efforts by various opposition politicians and groups to form a common front against President Bola Tinubu and the APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election, though uncertainty remains regarding the feasibility of such an arrangement due to divergent positions among parties.

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This can only happen if the opposition can come and back someone like him for the sake of the common man. Just as it happened in Osun, we are calling for the coalition of the people to salvage this country.