Accuses APC of seeking to weaken opposition ahead of 2027
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has said it will contest the 2027 general elections, distancing itself from the proposed “Rainbow Coalition” and insisting it will not join any political arrangement that could compromise its identity.
The party also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to infiltrate opposition parties and weaken them ahead of the elections.
The SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, spoke on Thursday in Abuja after a meeting with the party’s nine governorship candidates.
Gombe said the SDP had no interest in an arrangement that would compromise its identity or align its candidates with the ruling party. He alleged that the APC, having lost public confidence over its record in government, was using the proposed coalition to woo opposition members and undermine other parties.
The chairman said the SDP was working with other opposition parties to build a coalition of Nigerians committed to credible elections. He said the parties were planning joint training for polling agents and the establishment of common situation rooms to protect votes.
He reaffirmed the SDP’s commitment to presenting what he described as credible alternatives to Nigerians, including its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, and running mate, Prof. Usman Bugaje.
“I want to assure you that the SDP, as a political party, has nothing to do with anything called the Rainbow Coalition,” Gombe said.
“We are with other political parties in the opposition, doing everything possible to rescue our dear country through a coalition of the Nigerian people.
“We are not into any Rainbow Coalition where we will have candidates here and profess support for the APC presidency. We are SDP, and we are for SDP candidates.”
He said the party had resolved to discipline any member who joined the proposed arrangement without its authorisation.
Gombe said the meeting with the governorship candidates was part of preparations to strengthen the party’s electoral strategy and improve its chances in 2027. He said candidates from different states discussed their experiences, identified organisational gaps and considered ways to win elections at national and state levels.
He urged Nigerians to assess the party’s candidates on their competence, capacity, character and patriotism.
The chairman also pledged that the SDP would work with other opposition parties to monitor the elections, train polling agents and establish joint situation rooms.
“We will be our own INEC at the polling units and our own security to ensure free, fair and credible elections come 2027,” he said.
Gombe raised concerns about what he described as INEC’s failure to publish the names of some SDP candidates, saying the matter was before the court. He accused the commission of failing to recognise the candidates despite the party’s compliance with the Electoral Act, the Constitution and its internal nomination procedures.
He also condemned what he described as efforts to disqualify African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, saying parties should be free to present candidates for election.
Gombe urged the judiciary, security agencies and INEC to remain impartial and protect the democratic process. He also raised concerns about the voters’ register and the creation of polling units, warning against actions that could undermine public confidence in elections.
Earlier, the Chairman of the SDP Governors’ Forum and Nasarawa State governorship candidate, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, said the meeting was intended to develop strategies for winning the presidential, governorship and legislative elections.
Adamu said the candidates shared experiences from their states and discussed ways to address organisational gaps ahead of the polls. He expressed confidence that Nigerians were seeking an alternative to the APC-led government, adding that the SDP would prioritise citizens’ welfare and improve living conditions.
The meeting brought together the party’s nine governorship candidates and members of its National Working Committee. The candidates were from Nasarawa, Oyo, Benue, Niger, Adamawa, Plateau, Kano, Gombe and Bauchi states.
