Dr Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign Council of the Social Democratic Party, has dismissed reports that he insulted his former principal, Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, following his defection to the SDP. In a statement issued by Chief Media and Communications Adviser Mark Adebayo, Tanko described the viral claims as fabrications by mischief-makers seeking to create discord and damage his reputation.

Tanko said that anyone familiar with his character would know he neither engages in blackmail nor personal insults. "I can never insult His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi. We parted ways peacefully and with absolute mutual understanding," he said, adding that politics is about vision and service, never bitterness or personal attacks. He said he remained grateful for the opportunities Obi gave him to serve as an aide and to lead the Obidient Movement Worldwide, and warned that efforts to create hostility between them would fail.S1S2

The rebuttal comes amid realignments within the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections. Tanko was unveiled to the SDP National Working Committee and supporters at the inauguration of the party's Presidential Campaign Council at its Abuja secretariat, barely two weeks after resigning as Obi's Political Adviser for Northern Nigeria. He said he tendered that resignation on October 30, 2026, before accepting the SDP offer, and that he had since reached out to Obi.S1

The campaign council urged the public and the media to disregard the publications and rely only on its verified communications.S1S2