***Party rolls out 4 committees, vows strict screening as race for tickets begins
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has fixed May 9 for its national convention in Bauchi, in what analysts see as an early and calculated move to position the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking through a senior official at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Gombe, said preparations had reached an advanced stage, with extensive structures already in place to guarantee what he described as a transparent and credible process.
According to him, the party has constituted over 400 committees to manage critical aspects of the convention, including screening, accreditation, logistics, voting, and dispute resolution.
“We have set up over 400 committees, each with clearly defined responsilities to ensure a smooth, fair and hitch-free exercise,” he said.
The screening of aspirants is scheduled to commence at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja—its registered office with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—and will cover all categories of contestants, from presidential hopefuls to governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly aspirants.
Party leaders say the decision to field candidates across all constituencies nationwide reflects a broader strategy to expand the SDP’s national footprint and reposition it as a serious alternative in Nigeria’s increasingly fluid political landscape.
The leadership also stressed that internal discipline would be central to the credibility of the exercise, urging members to adhere strictly to party guidelines.
“We assure all members that the process will be conducted in line with established rules,” the official added, while commending stakeholders for sustaining party unity.
Chairman of the Screening Committee, Air Vice Marshal Sadiq Abubakar Lima (retd.), struck a firmer tone, warning that eligibility standards would be strictly enforced.
“Despite our different levels of familiarity, we must approach this assignment with diligence and integrity,” Lima said, adding that no aspirant who fails to meet the requirements would be cleared.
Political observers say the SDP’s early mobilisation—coming well ahead of most major parties—could give it a strategic advantage, particularly as internal crises continue to unsettle larger political platforms across the country.
However, they also caution that the real test will lie not just in conducting a transparent convention, but in managing post-primary grievances—historically a major trigger of defections and factional splits in Nigeria’s party system.
For now, the SDP leadership remains optimistic that the Bauchi convention will not only produce credible flagbearers but also consolidate internal cohesion as the party positions itself for a more competitive outing in 2027.
