The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has commenced an aggressive grassroots mobilisation strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that it will take its campaign to every community, ward and polling unit in its bid to win the presidency and secure strong representation at the National and State Assemblies.
The party made the declaration on Wednesday at its National Convention held at Newton Park Hotel, Abuja, where delegates ratified the election of Professor Sadiq Gombe as Chairman of the Convention Committee, Dr Olu Agunloye as Convention Secretary, and Honourable Mulikat Adeola-Akande as Deputy Chairman, alongside other members of the committee.
The convention, themed “Consolidating the Blueprint for a New Nigeria to Secure Homeland and Defeat Poverty,” also ratified decisions of the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC), including directives for appropriate disciplinary action against individuals allegedly involved in unauthorised membership registers, meetings and nominations.
Speaking at the convention, SDP National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Gombe, declared that the party remained strong, organised and united, with its structures from the national level down to the wards intact and ready for the 2027 elections.
He urged members to put internal disagreements behind them and immediately move from consultation to mobilisation.
“Our party remains strong, organised and united. We must put every distraction behind us and concentrate on building a party capable of winning elections at all levels,” Gombe said.
He added: “The time has come to move from consultation to mobilisation. Every member must return to the grassroots and strengthen our structures from the polling unit upward.”
Gombe said the party would intensify its engagement with youths and women while consolidating its structures ahead of the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State Assembly elections.
He maintained that despite the challenges confronting the party, the SDP had remained committed to due process, its constitution, the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to him, the SDP was founded on “social justice, equity, fairness, inclusion and equal opportunities,” stressing that political power should be used to transform society, uplift the people and restore hope to Nigerians.
‘SDP will unite Nigeria, defeat poverty’
The party’s presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, said the SDP would unite Nigerians, defeat poverty and insecurity and build a country citizens could be proud of if elected in 2027.
Adebayo said the party was established to serve Nigerians rather than individuals, insisting that leadership must be measured by the ability to solve the problems confronting the people.
“Leadership is not about occupying public office. Leadership is about accepting the responsibility of solving the problems of the people,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria’s major challenge was poor leadership rather than lack of resources, noting that the country was endowed with abundant oil, gas, solid minerals and other natural resources.
“We have oil, gas and minerals that no civilisation in history has had. God did not create Nigeria to be poor,” Adebayo said.
Recalling the history of the SDP and its role in the 1993 presidential election, Adebayo said the party had produced the winner of the election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, but that his mandate was subsequently annulled and the party banned.
“Today we are back to complete what we started: to end poverty and insecurity,” he declared.
Adebayo said the SDP was different from other political parties because it was not built around individual interests.
“The only thing we share with them is INEC. This party is not for self-glorification. We are here to fix the country,” he said.
He also called for a National Assembly that would reflect Nigeria’s diversity and remain connected to the people.
“We need representatives who go to Abuja to listen to their brothers and solve problems, not to take,” he said.
The presidential candidate urged members to take the party’s campaign to the grassroots, stressing that winning the 2027 election would require first winning the confidence and hearts of Nigerians.
“Nigerians are tired of excuses. They want change. They want to live without fear of insecurity,” he said.
He charged party leaders and members to embark on sustained door-to-door mobilisation across the country.
“Our mission is simple: farewell to poverty and insecurity. Let us stamp our generation’s name in history,” Adebayo said.
Bugaje: SDP strength not in ‘big men’
The SDP Vice-Presidential Candidate, Dr Usman Bugaje, urged members to protect the identity and ideological foundation of the party, saying its strength should not be measured by the influence of individuals or the number of political “big men” associated with it.
“The strength of the SDP is not in big men. It is in our ideas, our integrity, our honesty and our capacity to provide solutions to the problems confronting Nigerians,” Bugaje said.
He warned that Nigeria could not afford further political failure, urging party members to embrace innovative ideas, sacrifice and responsible leadership.
‘Don’t depend on Abuja’ — State chairmen
Chairman of the Forum of SDP State Chairmen, Femi Olaniyi, urged party members to strengthen the SDP’s structures in their respective states and communities instead of depending on the national leadership in Abuja.
“The strength of this party must come from the states and the grassroots. We cannot build the SDP by depending on Abuja,” Olaniyi said.
He commended Adebayo for his financial and moral support for the party and urged members to reciprocate the support through hard work and grassroots mobilisation.
Speaking on behalf of the governorship candidates, former Inspector-General of Police and SDP governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Mohammed Adamu, urged state chairmen and party supporters to return to their communities, mobilise voters and support the party’s candidates.
Representing SDP candidates for the National and State Houses of Assembly, Solomon Akwashiki called for aggressive grassroots mobilisation to give the party a strong presence in the legislatures after the 2027 elections.
“We must take the SDP to every community, every ward and every polling unit if we are serious about winning in 2027,” Akwashiki said.
El-Buba: Don’t sell your conscience
Also speaking, Prophet Isah El-Buba urged SDP leaders and members to remain committed to the party’s mission, warning them against allowing money or personal interests to compromise their principles.
“No amount of money is worth selling your conscience. We must remain committed to the struggle to end poverty and insecurity in Nigeria,” El-Buba said.
He called for greater sacrifice and commitment, particularly towards tackling poverty and insecurity in Northern Nigeria, while urging the party leadership to remain disciplined, focused and non-sentimental in its approach to the 2027 elections.
The convention ended with a renewed call on SDP members to return to the grassroots and begin sustained mobilisation as the party seeks to transform its structures into electoral strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.
