The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has said it will contest the presidency, governorships in 28 states and other elective positions in the 2027 general elections
The National Chairman of the party, Prof Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, said this yesterday at the party’s Special National Convention in Abuja.
He said the party would also seek seats in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly as it prepares for the elections
Gombe said the party’s structures at the national, zonal, state, local government and ward levels remained intact despite the challenges it had faced
He said the party had taken steps to protect its constitutional rights and ensure that Nigerians could exercise their franchise on the SDP platform
“No individual is bigger than the political party and no personal interest will ever be allowed to undermine our collective will,” he said
Gombe said differences within the party should be resolved through dialogue and established constitutional processes
He said the SDP would now move from consolidation to mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, adding that the party would strengthen its structures and engage more youths and women
The National Secretary of the party, Dr Olu Agunloye, said the SDP was different from other political parties because it combined its political structure with an ideology
“We are proud to say that we are social democrats We are proud to say that we believe in ideology. We are proud to say that we are driven by ideology,” he said.
Agunloye said the party had undergone a process of cleansing and was now stronger, adding that it would also need a clear blueprint for governance ahead of the elections
He said members had a responsibility to take the party’s message to Nigerians and work towards getting its candidates elected
The former Inspector General of Police and SDP governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, said the party’s next task after the convention was to work towards forming governments at all levels
Adamu said the SDP should focus its campaign on the grassroots and identify the problems affecting communities
“The masses don’t care about the so-called stakeholders They are looking for people that can come and rescue them,” he said.
He said members should return to their various communities, restrategise and mobilise supporters for the 2027 elections
The SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, said the party would seek to unite the country and address poverty and insecurity
He said the party was not established to promote individual interests but to provide an alternative for Nigerians
“What we are trying to do in the SDP is very simple We are trying to prove three things: that God did not make a mistake in creating Nigeria,” Adebayo said.
He added that the party would campaign across communities and seek to convince Nigerians that the country’s problems could be addressed
“We will unite Nigeria Because that is how God wants us to be. We will eradicate poverty,” he said.
Adebayo said the party would also seek to make Nigerians understand that they did not have to accept poverty and insecurity as permanent conditions
He said the SDP would take its campaign to the grassroots ahead of the 2027 elections