Former Minister of Sports and Youth Development Solomon Dalung delivered a speech, which shows that some former ministers of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration are fleeing hugely for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in preparation for the 2027 election.
Asked about the statement that 10 former ministers of the Buhari government joined the SDP, Darren replied that he has been flooded with calls from all over the country since former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai joined the party.
He said “Since El-Rufai joined the SDP, I have received calls from no less than ordinary citizens and famous figures every day to show that they are interested in joining the party.”
Naija News Dalung added that while the report on the SDP-joining minister may be part of ongoing political negotiations, it highlights the growing momentum within the party.
He continues “The information about the 10 ministers of Buhari joining the SDP may be part of negotiations between the party and other political leaders entering the SDP.”
Thoughts on joining SDP and the political landscape in Nigeria
Dalung explains why he joined the SDP in 2022, recalling the party’s important historical role in the early 1990s in uniting Nigerians.
“I have reflections on the party before I joined the SDP in 2022. It was the only party to unite Nigerians between 1991 and 1993. It was the only party to win the clearest and fairest elections ever in Nigeria,” he said. Darren said.
He noted that the SDP elected Mko Abiola in the late Nigerian elections in the 1993 presidential election, a victory that was later abolished.
According to Dalung, the Nigerian state has given justice for Abiola’s family, but has not extended the same recognition to Abiola’s rival parties.
Darren stressed that the government needs to apologize to SDP and restore its assets.
“The government took over the party, its assets and all elections. If we now try to reconcile and heal the wounds of the past, the government must come out and apologize, return and announce what they have taken from the party and return to the party,” He asserted.
Darren further called for the inauguration after Mko Abiola’s death, saying the government must formally declare him the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
“The main person who abolished the election admitted that Abiola won. Nevertheless, we hope that the official announcement that Abiola won the election should be brought to him the subsequent inauguration.” Darren said.
He also suggested that if it is impossible, Abiola’s name should be included in the list of presidents of Nigeria, and that all rights granted to his family were compensation for serious injustice committed against him.
