Adebayo’s party deploys manifesto in major Nigerian languages, launches radio offensive across 109 senatorial districts
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is stepping up preparations for the 2027 elections with a 12,000-member campaign council and a grassroots mobilisation strategy aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The party is also taking its manifesto beyond written documents, translating its policies into major Nigerian languages and broadcasting audio versions on 109 radio stations covering all senatorial districts.
The National Chairman of the SDP and chairman of the campaign council, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, unveiled the structure in Abuja on Wednesday, directing members to begin work immediately.
He said the party was moving from political planning to active mobilisation, stressing that its ambition was to build a formidable organisation capable of winning elections.
The 12,000-member council will operate across the six geopolitical zones, states, local governments, wards and polling units.
It will also integrate the campaign structures of the party and its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, to ensure a coordinated nationwide operation.
Gombe said the party would not be satisfied with merely participating in the elections but would work towards securing victory.
He identified insecurity, unemployment, poverty, economic hardship and declining public confidence in governance as major challenges requiring urgent attention.
According to him, the SDP is positioning itself as a democratic alternative founded on equity, freedom, social justice and inclusive development.
A major component of its strategy is the multilingual manifesto initiative.
Gombe said the party had translated its manifesto into major Nigerian languages, with audio versions already airing on 109 radio stations.
The broadcasts, he explained, would enable citizens to understand the party’s policies regardless of their educational background or location.
He described the initiative as an effort to take political communication directly to the grassroots rather than rely solely on rallies and conventional campaign materials.
Gombe also claimed that the SDP was the only political party with a comprehensive manifesto outlining its vision and programmes ahead of the 2027 elections.
Beyond its campaign preparations, the party said it was engaging opposition groups and democratic stakeholders to promote credible, free and fair elections.
Gombe said the collaboration would focus on protecting electoral institutions, strengthening safeguards and preventing electoral malpractice.
He warned party members against violence, intimidation and manipulation, insisting that the SDP would pursue its ambitions through peaceful and constitutional means.
The chairman also cautioned candidates against allowing personal ambitions to undermine the party’s collective interests.
He said the presidential campaign must complement those of the party’s governorship, National Assembly and state assembly candidates.
Gombe urged women and young people to take active roles in the campaign, describing their participation as essential to building a nationwide political movement.
With its 12,000-member council and radio outreach across 109 senatorial districts, the SDP is seeking to turn its presidential ambition into a grassroots-driven electoral challenge.
Whether the elaborate campaign machinery can translate into votes and upset Tinubu’s re-election plans will be determined in the 2027 elections.