2027: SDP Chairman tasks Arewa students, youths on credible choices

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Sadiq Umar Gombe, has urged Arewa students and youths across the country to play an active role in electing credible, competent, and patriotic leaders capable of delivering a better future for Nigeria.

Gombe made the call on Monday during his investiture as Patron of the Arewa Students Forum at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the student body.

The forum conferred on him its highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Arewa Students Forum (GCASF), and presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation and a plaque in recognition of his leadership and service.

According to Gombe, young Nigerians can no longer afford to remain passive as the country grapples with multifaceted socio-economic and political challenges, the consequences of which are borne largely by the youth.

He said the students, who represent more than 2.1 million members, must recognise the power of their votes and use them to elect leaders with character, competence, capacity, patriotism, and integrity who can provide both immediate and lasting solutions to the nation’s problems.

The SDP chairman noted that the numerical strength of the students could significantly influence the outcome of future elections, observing that the margins between leading presidential candidates in recent elections had been relatively narrow.

“Leadership is our major problem in this country. When you don’t get leadership right, you are not going to get it right at any level or in any sphere of human endeavour,” he said.

Gombe stressed that although the Arewa Students Forum is a non-partisan organisation, its political neutrality should not translate into indifference to the electoral process.

He urged the students to educate their peers on the importance of voter registration and active participation in elections, while encouraging them to support candidates based on competence, integrity, and proven track records rather than ethnic, religious, regional, or partisan considerations.

“You must be committed to educating your peers. Once you are 18 years old, you are eligible to vote. You have to educate your peers so they can make the right choices during our elections,” he said.

Recalling his days as a student union leader, Gombe described that period as one of the most fulfilling stages of his life because of the positive impact it had on fellow students and society.

He noted that many of the ideas generated by student leaders during his time were more substantive than some of the debates taking place in legislative chambers today, urging young Nigerians to begin developing leadership qualities early in life.

Gombe clarified that he was not asking the students to join the SDP, although they had the constitutional right to belong to any political party. Rather, he said, they should support candidates capable of delivering good governance, irrespective of party affiliation.

“We are not saying you must belong to the SDP. You must, however, be committed to participating in the process of electing credible, patriotic, and competent leaders,” he added.

Earlier, the President of the Arewa Students Forum, Comrade Abubakar Abdullahi, said the organisation honoured Gombe after assessing his contributions to education, youth development, humanitarian service, and nation-building.

Abdullahi described the SDP chairman as a servant leader whose humility, accessibility, intellectual accomplishments, and commitment to humanity distinguished him from many contemporary political figures.

He said the organisation, which has over 2.1 million members across the 19 Northern states, the Federal Capital Territory, and the diaspora, conferred the award strictly on merit in recognition of Gombe’s commitment to leadership, peacebuilding, and community development.

Also speaking, the SDP National Vice Chairman (South-East), Senator Ugochukwu Uba, described Gombe as a humble and principled leader whose unwavering commitment to integrity and public service had earned him widespread respect.