Tanko finally breaks silence on why he dumped Peter Obi for SDP

Former National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, has finally broken his silence on why he left the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi a few weeks to the 2027 presidential election.

Tanko, who was unveiled on Wednesday as the National Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, for Prince Adewole Adebayo, said he left because the group around Obi did not want him anymore.

He spoke in an interview on Symfoni TV, stating that he has no problem with Obi but could not stay where he was only being tolerated.

“The group did not want me. You don’t stay where you’re being tolerated. You go to where you’re being appreciated.

“I respect Peter Obi, but since they don’t want me, people who want me picked me up from the dustbin and made me a bride. That’s what happened,” Tanko said.

Tanko was one of the closest allies of Obi, who served as Obi’s spokesman and Media Director of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation during the 2023 election.

Recall that in September 2024, Obi appointed him as the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement worldwide.

He was later removed as coordinator of the movement in October 2026 and was made Political Adviser, North, to Obi.

Tanko said he informed Obi and the National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, before he took the SDP job.

He said his relationship with Adebayo did not start now, but dates back to 2023.

“This is not a mistake in history. When you go back into history, you will see my warm relationship with him way back in 2023. So this is a relationship that has long been built,” Tanko said.