By Divine Sam
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has ruled out joining the proposed Rainbow Coalition, declaring its intention to field candidates in the 2027 general elections while pursuing an alliance with other opposition parties to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party’s National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, made this known on Thursday while speaking with journalists after a meeting with SDP governorship candidates from different states.
Gombe alleged that the APC was attempting to infiltrate opposition parties through the proposed Rainbow Coalition as part of efforts to weaken their ranks ahead of the 2027 elections.
Despite rejecting the arrangement, he said the SDP was engaging other opposition parties to establish a broader political alliance aimed at addressing the country’s challenges and providing an alternative to the ruling party.
“We don’t have anything to do with Rainbow Coalition. SDP is aligned with other political parties in the opposition, doing everything possible towards the rescue of our dear country in a coalition of the Nigerian people,” he said.
He explained that discussions among the opposition parties included plans to establish a common platform for election monitoring, jointly train polling agents and operate shared situation rooms to safeguard votes during the elections.
According to him, the proposed collaboration would strengthen their ability to monitor voting activities, identify irregularities and protect the integrity of the electoral process at polling units.
Gombe further stressed that the opposition intended to take responsibility for monitoring the electoral process and protecting its votes.
“We will be our own INEC at the polling unit, we will be our own security at the polling unit to make sure that there must be free, fair and credible elections come 2027,” Gombe added.
The development comes amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the Rainbow Coalition, reportedly led by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, working towards President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
The SDP’s position signals its preference for a separate opposition alliance rather than participation in the Rainbow Coalition.
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