-Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum And Arewa Movement For Good Governance Present As Observers
-Heralding The Birth Of Afenirewa As A New National Alliance Vehicle For National Transformation
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a leading Nigerian opposition party, has received a major boost in its quest to reenact the 1993 feat that saw the party winning the presidential election of that year, with the late business mogul, Bashorun MKO Abiola, defeating Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
The SDP was unanimously endorsed as the political party of choice on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, by Afenifere, the socio-cultural organisation of the South-West of Nigeria, at its General Assembly, which held in Ilesha, Osun State.
The General Assembly of Afenifere was presided over by the Leader of the organisation, His Royal Majesty, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and had in attendance, a full complement of its National Executive Council members, namely: Senator Bucknor Akerele, Special Adviser;
Mr. Olutola Mobolurin, Special Adviser; Chief Supo Shonibare, National Treasurer; Mrs Lanre Anjola, Lagos State Leader; Bayo Adenekan, Director Diaspora; Dr. Akin Fapohunda, Director, Research & Strategy; Mrs. Toyin Falade, National Welfare Officer; Mr. Dele Farotimi, National Organising Secretary; Justice Faloye, Director of Media and Publicity; Arch. Goke Omigbodun, Osun State Chairman; Pastor Dr. Fajuminu, Chairman Ekiti State, and Mr. Alade Rotimi-John, Deputy General Secretary.
The unprecedented political development, which has the potential of massively shaping the 2027 general elections, was witnessed by three strong regional socio-cultural organisations and political advocacy groups in the northern region of the country, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), represented by its Secretary-General, Malam Murtala Aliyu (former Minister of Power); Comrade Salisu Nuhu Mohammad, Deputy Director-General of Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and Secretary, Board of Trustees, Labour Party; Dr. Usman Bugaje, Convener, Arewa Movement for Good Governance.
Former governor of Osun State and member of Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and Col. Bello Fadile, former Director, Office of the National Security Adviser, were also present at the endorsement meeting.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, Prince (Dr.) Adewole Adebayo was present, while the National Working Committee (NWC) team had the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe; Senator (Dr.) Ugochukwu Uba, Deputy National Chairman (South); Dr. Olu Agunloye, National Secretary, and Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, National Publicity Secretary. Other members of the national leadership of the Party included Chief Silas Alani (former National Vice-Chairman, South-West); Hon. Femi Olaniyi (Ferrari), Lagos State Chairman and Chairman, Conference of SDP State Charmen; Hon. Mike Okunlade, Chairman, Oyo Staye SDP; Barrister Gbenga Akinbule, Ondo State Chairman; Otunba Olayinka Williams, Ogun State Chairman; Adewale Stephen, South-West Zonal Secretary; Engr. Tony Ojeshina, the 2023 SDP Governorship Candidate for Ogun State, and Aare, former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Oyo State.
Afenifere declared that the ideology and disposition of the SDP align with the core founding principles and values of the organisation – welfare of the people, social justice, and building a good Nigerian society life for all
It also stated that the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Prince Adewole Adebayo, ticks the boxes of requisite capacity, competence, pedigree, relatable character, nobility, patriotic disposition and fecund mind.
The meeting of endorsement heralded the birth of AFENIREWA, a new national development concept which represents Nigeria’s unity in diversity, true national agenda, and a refreshing hope of greatness for the country, to position it as the true giant of Africa, and the pride of the black race.
The “Ilesha Declaration 2026” is a new order and philosophical approach to good governance. It recognises that
poor leadership has been the bane of our national development, and sincere leadership is what can guarantee greater good for the greater number of Nigerian people.
The meeting noted that the greed of the leaders of the country has been to the detriment of a greater number of people; that all socio-cultural groups in Nigeria need to stop taking at one another and talk to one another towards engendering synergistic relationship for national development.
The meeting noted that a Nigerian wrote the blueprint of Botswana’s development, which enabled the country to harness its resources and wealth to build its education, health, and critical infrastructure.
Also, it was emphasised that it was the enlightened self-interest of all Nigerians to work to build a good society for all; to remove those factors that bifurcation the people, and make banditry and social vices to thrive – poverty and lack of education and social justice
Afenifere stated that it will continue to strategize, advance, promote and adopt the great development template and model of its founding leader, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo; the One Nigeria development agenda of the late Sarduana, which saw education and inclusive leadership of the diverse peoples of the Northern region as tools for uniting and elevating the people, and the late Zik of Africa who fought for national integration.
Afenifere resolved that it would mobilise its members in the eight states of the country, other parts of the nation, and in the diaspora, to elect the SDP’s candidates in the 2027 general elections, to help change the current sorry state of the country, secure the well-being of the country and all Nigerians, and enable Nigeria to attain true greatness.
