The Social Democratic Party has chosen Abimbola Akeem Atanda as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. The party made the decision on Wednesday at its National Convention and Presidential Primary, held at the Bola Tinubu Conference Centre in Abuja. Delegates from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory voted by voice to elect Atanda.
The same convention also returned Shehu Gabam as the party's National Chairman and ratified other members of the National Working Committee. Gabam's leadership team will guide the party through the campaign period and beyond.
But the convention was not without drama. The SDP suspended 13 members of its National Working Committee for what the party described as conduct inconsistent with party ideals and constitutional provisions. Those suspended include Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, the National Secretary; Dr. Olu Agunloye; and Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the National Publicity Secretary.
Also suspended are Adewole Adebayo, Joseph Achile Abu, Maggie Mariam Batubo, Sa'adatu Abdullahi, Abimbola Aderemi, Oguchukwu Uba, Huseesini Bello, Alabi Lekan, Rosemary Effiong and Abubakar Modibo. The party said the suspensions were necessary to maintain party discipline and cohesion, claiming the affected members had undermined both. The convention required delegates to approve and ratify the suspension orders before they took effect.
The SDP now moves into campaign mode with Atanda as its flag-bearer and Gabam leading from the national office. How the party performs in 2027 will depend partly on whether the internal friction revealed by the suspensions can be healed before campaigning intensifies.
