2027: Adebayo emerges SDP presidential candidate

Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has again elected its 2023 candidate, Prince Adewale Adebayo, as its presidential flagbearer for the forthcoming election.

Adebayo was adopted through a consensus arrangement at the SDP national convention held in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital, on Saturday.

The motion for the adoption was moved by the chairman of state chairmen of the party and Lagos State chairman, Femi Olaniyi Farrari, at the convention ground.

The motion was endorsed by all the delegates.

The SDP 2026 National Convention also saw the emergence of a new set of national officers, elected through a consensus-driven voice vote process that party leaders described as a demonstration of unity, discipline and internal democracy.

Delegates adopted the voice vote method to confirm candidates who had scaled screening, a process officials said helped reinforce transparency and reduce internal contestation.

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 being returned as the only qualified candidate for the position.

Dr Olu Agunloye was also returned as National Secretary of the party following affirmation by delegates, just as Professor Sadiq Umar Gombe emerged as National Chairman after he was screened and declared eligible by the party’s electoral committee.

Members of the newly elected National Working Committee are National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe; Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Ugochukwu Uba; National Secretary, Olu Agunloye; National Treasurer, Hajiya Mariam Batubo; National Organising Secretary, Joseph Abu; National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba; National Legal Adviser, Aderemi Abimbola; National Financial Secretary, Bello Hussaini; National Woman Leader, Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdullahi; National Youth Leader, Daniel Ibe; National Society Secretary, Mrs Rosemary Effiong; and Leader of Persons With Disabilities, Chief Lekan Alabi.

In his acceptance address as presidential candidate, Prince Adebayo decried the country’s economic hardship, saying many hardworking Nigerians were unfairly perceived as lazy due to prevailing conditions.

He also highlighted the struggles of Nigerians abroad, noting that some citizens were forced into difficult conditions in foreign countries despite having a homeland.

“For many who are working very hard, the economic policies of the government of the day make them look lazy because when they go home, their children ask why there is no food, why school fees are unpaid, and why sick relatives cannot access healthcare.

“Why am I in China hiding from immigration just to earn a living when I have a country of my own,” he asked,

Adebayo criticised what he described as poor leadership and warned against a drift towards one-man rule, insisting that Nigeria needed a vibrant multi-party system.

The 2027 presidential candidate also alleged undue interference in political processes and commended the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, for allowing the convention to hold without disruption.

He urged Nigerians to make use of their democratic rights to effect change, stressing that the country’s challenges require collective action and responsible leadership.

Speaking shortly after being sworn in alongside other members of the National Working Committee, Prof. Gombe said the party remained the most qualified platform to take over leadership in Nigeria.

He thanked party members and delegates for the confidence reposed in him and pledged transparent, committed and patriotic leadership in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

Gombe said that the SDP would not take Nigerians for granted, stressing that the country urgently needed upright and transparent leadership.

“I thank you sincerely for the confidence reposed in us and for giving us yet another mandate to lead. We assure you of our commitment to the ideals, principles and wellbeing of the party and Nigeria.

“We want to assure Nigerians that the SDP will provide the needed alternative platform for the rescue mission of this country,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the National Convention Committee, Usman Bugaje, criticised the state of governance in the country, citing insecurity, high petrol prices, poor infrastructure, unemployment and widespread poverty as major challenges.

Bugaje commended party members for remaining steadfast despite prevailing hardship.

He accused the ruling party of attempting to suppress the opposition and shrink the democratic space, alleging that institutions such as the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission had become tools in the hands of politicians.

He said, “That despite all these challenges you are able to come in your numbers is a measure of your commitment and determination to change your fortunes for good. No sacrifice is too great in changing the fortunes of the nearly 300 million oppressed people.”

“The attempt by the ruling party to block the political space and eliminate competition and opposition is one of the most despicable offences today.”

He said the convention’s theme, “Building a People’s Coalition to Secure Our Homeland and Defeat Poverty,” reflected the party’s resolve to provide an alternative rooted in social democratic ideals and competent leadership.

According to him, while other parties recycle leaders linked to the country’s challenges, the SDP is presenting fresh candidates committed to national development.

Agunloye, speaking at the convention, said the party had successfully resisted attempts by “self-serving politicians” to hijack its structure, declaring that the SDP was now repositioned as a formidable opposition force ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the party had undergone significant reforms over the past four years, reclaiming its ideological identity and restoring its structure to what he described as genuine members.

“The party survived the siege of takeover attempts by self-serving politicians and agents of coalition who reacted violently to the internal cleansing activities.

“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 in general,” Agunloye said.

He said the SDP is Nigeria’s second oldest surviving political party after the People’s Redemption Party (PDP), noting its foundation in social justice and ideological politics.

He said the party reviewed its constitution in 2018 and 2022 and carried out internal cleansing to enforce discipline and protect the supremacy of its constitution.

Agunloye added that the party had secured major court victories against the Independent National Electoral Commission over alleged unlawful interference and had commenced establishing model secretariats across the country.