SDP dismisses crisis claims, reaffirms readiness for 2027 polls

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dismissed reports of internal crisis, reaffirming its unity, ideological focus and readiness to participate actively in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a media briefing at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, National Chairman of the SDP, Prof. Sadiq Umar Gombe, said the party remained on course despite attempts to portray internal disciplinary issues as a leadership struggle.

According to him, the party had successfully undergone verification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that committees set up by the electoral body had submitted reports affirming the authenticity of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and other structures.

He recalled that an 11-member INEC verification team led by a deputy director conducted an exercise involving members of the National Working Committee (NWC), NEC and state chairmen, insisting the outcome further confirmed the party’s stability.

The SDP chairman dismissed concerns over entries on the INEC website relating to party leadership, describing them as administrative errors and insisting the electoral body has no constitutional or statutory powers to determine the leadership of political parties.

According to him, the issue being misrepresented as a leadership crisis was in fact a disciplinary matter involving alleged fraud and misconduct by an erring member, stressing that the party merely exercised its constitutional right to discipline one of its members.

“There is no leadership struggle in SDP,” he maintained, adding that the matter had been reported to appropriate authorities and that there was no court order challenging the current leadership of the party.

Gombe said that unlike some major political parties often weakened by defections and unresolved disputes, the SDP had consistently resolved its issues internally through lawful mechanisms provided in the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

He also reaffirmed the party’s openness to alliances aimed at what he described as a national rescue mission, while confirming that the SDP would field candidates, including a presidential candidate, in the 2027 elections.

The SDP national chairman also invited the media to monitor the party’s congresses and forthcoming national convention at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi expressing confidence that the party would expand its electoral fortunes at national and sub-national levels.

Also speaking at the briefing, former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr Labaran Maku, commended the party’s leadership and expressed confidence in its prospects ahead of 2027.

Maku said the SDP had demonstrated growing strength, citing its performance in Nasarawa where the party won two senatorial seats, two House of Representatives seats and four State Assembly seats in the last elections.

He described political parties as the foundation of democracy and urged the leadership to remain focused, organized and ideologically driven in pursuit of national development.

He also pledged continued loyalty to the party and support for its efforts to emerge as a viable political alternative in Nigeria.