By George OPARA
In what seems like a transactional politics, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has produced two rival presidential candidates in the persons of Adewole Adebayo and Abimbola Akeem Atanda as 2027 presidential flagbearers barely a week after Adebayo’s emergence.
Spear News Nigeria gathered that Adebayo was even suspended by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and, before his suspension, the party had also dismissed reports that it had submitted its 2027 presidential candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.
After Adebayo’s emergence, Mr. Lawal Ibrahim, Special Adviser on Media to the party’s National Chairman, said “no process had yet been concluded for the emergence of its presidential candidate and, therefore, no name could have been forwarded to INEC.”
Besides, the party dismissed reports of a purported national convention allegedly held in Bauchi State where Adebayo emerged as a presidential candidate of the party, describing the gathering as “illegal and orchestrated by desperate politicians seeking to create confusion within the party.”
But at a live convention held on May 17, 2026, Adebayo who was the party’s presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general polls also emerged as the sole presidential candidate of the party for the upcoming general elections following his adoption at the party’s national convention held in the North-east state.
He secured the party’s ticket by consensus as the sole aspirant in the race, with delegates across the 36 states taking turns to endorse his candidacy during the convention.
Also, the gathering produced new members of the party’s National Working Committee.
Even, the party’s NWC led by Alhaji Shehu Gabam described Adebayo’s name said to have been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as misleading and fake.
“This is a false and calculated attempt to mislead our party members nationwide and the general public.
“At the 2026 convention and presidential primary held on May 20, 2026 at the Bola Tinubu Conference Centre by the Gabam-led Social Democratic Party, SDP, elected Abimbola Akeem Atanda as its Presidential candidate for the upcoming poll.
“Also, the convention had ratified the nomination of Shehu Gabam as its National Chairman alongside other members of the NWC.
Spear News Nigeria gathered that the election was conducted in a voice vote by delegates from the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Further, the SDP suspended the National Working Committee, NWC, led by Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, the National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye and the National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba.
Others on suspension 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.
According to the party, “These disciplinary measures were taken following findings that the affected individuals acted in ways inconsistent with the ideals, principles, and constitutional provisions of the party, thereby undermining party cohesion and discipline. “I therefore urge this distinguished body to approve and ratify the suspension and expulsion accordingly.”
It would be recalled that before the Abuja convention, the Gabam- led NWC was recognised by the INEC and listed on its site. A cautionary information was added to it: By Court Order.
The Convention had ratified Gabam leadership. But the other members of the NWC of the party listed alongside Gabam, namely, the National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye; National Treasurer, Maggie Mariam; National Legal Adviser Abimbola Aderemi and National Financial Secretary, Huseesini Bello, were among those who were suspended, thus fuelling more crisis for the party.
In his reaction, Adebayo said he was unperturbed and would continue to assume the position of the party’s presidential candidate, arguing that though Gabam did not attend the Bauchi convention where he emerged the sole presidential candidate of the party, it was the duty of INEC to catch with the party and not the other way round, indicating that the party complied with the law in its conduct of the controversial national convention.
He said, “Whether Gombe is the chairman of the party or not, I lose nothing. If it is Gabam that is the chairman, I lose nothing. What concerns me is that the party must follow the Constitution, the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines in the conduct of its affairs. I am not an official of the party, an exco member. With respect to INEC, the law is very clear. Under the Constitution, it is charged to supervise the parties and ensure they abide by democratic principles as spelt out in Section 15 c and in Section 83 of the Electoral Act which empowers INEC to regulate political parties.”
In proffering an insight, Adebayo disclosed that the party’ crisis started about two years ago shortly after Gabam was elected Chairman alongside the present NWC of the party, a National Financial Secretary was appointed. Thereafter, Gabam was suspended over allegations that led to a criminal trial, which led to his suspension.
Later, Adebayo added that INEC said there was a court order that empowered the commission to remove Gombe as Chairman from its website and replaced him with Gabam.
“The party is of the view that INEC did the wrong thing to exchange the names of the National Chairman of the party on its site. Anyway, the party has a National Legal Adviser and I think the NWC has competent people to resolve the issue. So, I will not panic at all. I am not shopping for a ticket. I have been in the SDP since 1991 when I was 19 years-old and I will remain in the SDP, even if I were to lose the ticket to another person.”
Insider sources said the suspension of Adebayo and some of the old NWC members would continue to remain until the suspension is lifted.
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