The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has pledged to reserve 50 per cent of government appointments and positions in public organisations for women if elected into power in the 2027 general elections.
The party made the commitment on Friday in Abuja at the maiden strategic meeting of the National Speaker of the SDP Women Parliament with state speakers and women leaders from across the country.
Representing the National Chairman of the party, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Ugochukwu Uba, said women would occupy a central position in the party’s political, campaign and governance plans.
Uba said the SDP was undergoing restructuring and reorganisation ahead of the 2027 elections, adding that the party’s forthcoming manifesto would clearly define the role of women in an SDP administration.
“In appointments, in all organisations, it is going to be 50-50. We are going to give the women their rightful place in all activities and deliberations,” he said.
He said the commitment would extend beyond political appointments to ensuring greater participation of women in party activities and elections.
Uba described the SDP as an ideological party committed to policies rooted in Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution, particularly its provisions on the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians.
“The SDP is going to ensure that Nigerians, wherever they are—women, men, children and youths — will be catered for. Nobody will be left behind,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the implementation of the party’s manifesto would bring significant changes to the country, while urging women leaders to intensify mobilisation at the grassroots.
Earlier, the National Speaker of the SDP Women Parliament, Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdullahi, charged women leaders across the country to build strong and functional structures in states, local government areas, wards and communities ahead of the 2027 elections.
Abdullahi said political victory could not be achieved through wishful thinking but required organisation, sacrifice, strategy, commitment and sustained engagement with voters.
“This meeting gives us an opportunity to assess where we are, identify our weaknesses, strengthen our structures and develop practical strategies for taking the SDP message to every ward, community and household,” she said.
She urged state speakers to see themselves as strategic pillars of the party’s women structure and work with unity, discipline and commitment to the collective vision of the SDP.
“As we prepare for 2027, let history record that the women of the SDP do not sit on the sidelines. We organise, we mobilise, we stand together and we deliver,” Abdullahi said.
She also called on women leaders to put aside their differences and work together, stressing that unity would strengthen the party’s structures and amplify women’s voices in the political space.
“Our strength is in our unity, our power is in our organisation, and our weapon is our determination. We must organise, mobilise and deliver results,” she added.
The National Speaker said the SDP Women Parliament was determined to mobilise more women for active participation in the party’s activities and political processes.
She commended the women leaders who travelled long distances to attend the meeting at their own expense, describing their sacrifice as evidence of their commitment to the growth of the party.
Abdullahi urged the delegates to return to their respective states with renewed determination and translate the resolutions of the meeting into measurable results.
Uba similarly commended the delegates for their commitment, noting that many of them had travelled to Abuja at their own expense.
He urged the women to sustain grassroots mobilization as the party continues its restructuring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
