…Party elects new national leadership at Bauchi Convention
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has adopted its 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewale Adebayo, as its sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, as the party concluded its 2026 National Convention in Bauchi with the emergence of a new national leadership through a consensus-based process.
The endorsement of Adebayo was moved by the Chairman of SDP State Chairmen and Lagos State Chairman, Mr Femi Olaniyi Ferrari, during the convention and was unanimously adopted by delegates.
The convention, which ended on a calm and orderly note, saw delegates elect members of the National Working Committee through voice votes after the screening and clearance of candidates by the party’s electoral committee.
Party officials described the process as transparent, peaceful and reflective of the SDP’s commitment to internal democracy and unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among those elected was Chief Lekan Alabi, who emerged as Leader of Persons With Disability following unanimous endorsement by delegates. Mrs Rosemary Ediom was affirmed as National Welfare Officer after emerging as the only qualified candidate for the office.
Hon. Daniel Ibe emerged as National Youth Leader, while Ajiya Sandra Ubakari was elected National Woman Leader after securing overwhelming support from delegates.
Mr Bello Adu Osunmi emerged as National General Secretary, while Barrister Akibola was elected National Legal Adviser through voice affirmation.
Barrister Joseph Abung emerged as National Organising Secretary, while Araba Rufus Aiyenigba was elected National Publicity Secretary after scaling the screening process.
Delegates also returned Dr Olu Agunloye as National Secretary of the party, while Professor Sadiq Umar Gombe emerged as National Chairman after being declared eligible by the convention’s electoral panel.
A convention official said the exercise followed due constitutional procedures and reflected the party’s resolve to deepen credible leadership selection.
“Every candidate went through screening, and those who emerged did so based on merit and compliance with our constitution,” the official stated.
Party leaders described the convention as a significant step in consolidating the party’s internal structures and strengthening its position as an opposition platform ahead of future political contests.
Speaking at the convention, Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, Professor Usman Bugaje, accused the ruling party of shrinking Nigeria’s democratic space and undermining opposition politics.
Bugaje alleged that democratic institutions, including the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had become vulnerable to political manipulation.
According to him, “The attempt by the ruling party to block the political space and eliminate competition and opposition is the most despicable of all offences today.”
He further warned that those undermining democratic institutions would ultimately face the judgment of history.
“Only a quarter century ago, the late General Abacha, with all his military might, detained who he could and killed who he could, yet could not get what he wanted. Nigerians are watching and history is recording these actions,” he said.
Bugaje urged party members and Nigerians generally to remain steadfast in defending democratic values and resisting oppression.
In his address on the state of the party, Dr Agunloye said the SDP had resisted attempts by “coalition forces and self-serving politicians” to hijack its structures, insisting that the party had now regained its ideological identity.
“Our party has been able to reclaim and re-establish itself and has been brought back to its original owners. It has been restored as a public institution for the Nigerian people,” he said.
Agunloye described the SDP as Nigeria’s second oldest surviving political party after the People’s Redemption Party and said the party remained rooted in social justice, equity and ideological politics.
He noted that the party had reviewed its constitution in 2018 and 2022 to strengthen internal democracy and had also embarked on internal reforms aimed at enforcing discipline and protecting the supremacy of the party constitution.
According to him, the SDP survived what he described as “takeover attempts” by political interests seeking control of the party.
On electoral performance, Agunloye disclosed that the SDP had won two senatorial seats, two House of Representatives seats, eight state House of Assembly seats, two local government chairmanship positions and eight councillorship seats in elections conducted over the past four years.
Also speaking, the newly elected National Chairman, Professor Gombe, pledged to lead the party with discipline, transparency and strict adherence to constitutional provisions.
He thanked delegates for the confidence reposed in the new National Working Committee and assured members that the leadership would reposition the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We are going to lead with the utmost sense of responsibility while respecting the Constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act and the constitution of our great party,” Gombe said.
