The Social Democratic Party, SDP, on Saturday in Bauchi returned its 2023 presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election during its national convention held in the Bauchi State capital.
Adebayo emerged through a consensus arrangement agreed upon by party leaders, delegates and members at the convention as the SDP began preparations for the next general election. During the same event, Prof. Sadiq Gombe was also endorsed as the new National Chairman of the party alongside other members of the National Working Committee.
The decisions followed motions presented by party leaders and state chairmen which later received support from delegates at the gathering. The convention attracted party members from different parts of the country and focused on leadership, party reforms and strategies ahead of 2027.
While addressing supporters and delegates, Adebayo spoke about the economic difficulties facing many Nigerians, saying rising hardship has made life more difficult for citizens both within and outside the country. He said many Nigerians now struggle to provide food, healthcare and school fees for their families despite working hard to survive.
The former presidential candidate also criticised the country’s leadership and warned against any attempt to weaken opposition politics, insisting that Nigeria needs a strong multi-party democracy. He commended Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed for allowing the convention to hold peacefully without interference.
Adebayo called on Nigerians to use democratic processes to bring change and said solving the country’s problems would require collective efforts and responsible leadership from political leaders and citizens.
Speaking after taking oath of office alongside other party officials, the new National Chairman, Gombe, thanked members for the confidence placed in him and promised to lead the party in line with the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act and the SDP constitution.
He said the party would continue working towards becoming a strong alternative platform capable of leading the country. According to him, Nigerians are in need of honest and transparent leadership as the country faces economic and political challenges.
Earlier during the convention, Chairman of the National Convention Committee, Usman Bugaje, criticised the state of governance in the country, pointing to insecurity, unemployment, poverty, high fuel prices and poor infrastructure as major concerns affecting citizens.
Bugaje accused the ruling party of attempting to weaken opposition politics and reduce political competition in the country. He also alleged that some public institutions were being influenced for political purposes.
According to him, the convention’s theme focused on building a people-based coalition that would address insecurity and poverty through social democratic policies and better leadership. He said the SDP was presenting itself as an alternative platform with fresh leadership ideas ahead of the next election.
Also speaking at the convention, the party’s National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, said the SDP had resisted attempts by politicians to take control of the party for personal interests. He stated that the party had carried out internal reforms and disciplinary measures aimed at rebuilding its structure and strengthening its position before the 2027 polls.
Agunloye added that the SDP had also secured legal victories against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over what he described as interference in party affairs and said preparations were ongoing to expand party structures across the country ahead of future elections.