The Social Democratic Party has elected Professor Sadiq Gombe as its new National Chairman at its 2026 national convention in Bauchi State, adopted its 2023 presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo as its consensus flag bearer for the 2027 general election, and launched a fierce attack on the All Progressives Congress, accusing the ruling party of shrinking democratic space, weaponizing state institutions, and attempting to eliminate opposition politics in Nigeria.
Convention Chairman Professor Usman Bugaje told delegates that Nigeria was drifting toward authoritarianism and warned that attempts to suppress opposition parties would ultimately fail, drawing a direct parallel with the military era by noting that even General Sani Abacha, wielding enormous coercive power, had failed to achieve his political objectives. He accused the judiciary and INEC of being used as political instruments against the opposition, describing the ruling party’s conduct as one of the most despicable offences possible in a democratic system.
National Secretary Dr. Olu Agunloye said the SDP had survived coordinated attempts by what he described as self-serving politicians and coalition agents to hijack the party’s structure, and had emerged from an internal reform and cleansing exercise with its ideological foundation intact and its structure reclaimed by its original members. He disclosed that the party had recorded electoral victories at the senatorial, House of Representatives, state assembly, and local government levels over the past four years, and had secured major legal victories against INEC over alleged unlawful interference in party affairs.
Adebayo was adopted unopposed after delegates from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory unanimously endorsed him, with the motion first moved by the Lagos State party chairman. In his remarks, Adebayo described himself as called by God to provide a credible opposition to President Tinubu and accused the APC of suppressing internal democracy and applying institutional pressure to weaken opposition parties ahead of 2027.
Gombe, in his acceptance speech as National Chairman, pledged to lead the party with discipline, transparency, and strict adherence to constitutional provisions, saying Nigeria was bleeding and in urgent need of upright and patriotic leadership.
