The Social Democratic Party (SDP) says it will work with other opposition parties to train polling agents together and run shared election situation rooms nationwide, as part of efforts to protect votes in the 2027 general elections.
The party’s National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, announced this in Abuja on Thursday while meeting nine of the party’s governorship candidates. He said the session was meant to align strategies, exchange experiences and sharpen preparations for the presidential, governorship and legislative polls.
Gombe said the arrangement would improve the ability of opposition parties to monitor polling units and protect the integrity of results.
He also distanced the SDP from the so-called “rainbow coalition” allegedly being pushed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party of trying to infiltrate opposition parties and weaken their structures. “We don’t have anything to do with the so-called rainbow coalition,” he said, adding that the SDP remains part of the opposition effort to rescue the country through a coalition of the Nigerian people.
The chairman warned that members who enter unauthorised political arrangements that could harm the party would face disciplinary action. He added that the SDP is ready for the elections and opposes any attempt to postpone them. He named Prince Dr Adewale Adebayo and Dr Usman Bugaje as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Gombe also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of refusing to publish the names of some SDP candidates despite the party’s claim that it met nomination requirements. He said the matter is in court. He further condemned attempts to disqualify the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and urged INEC, the judiciary and security agencies to stay neutral. He also raised concerns about the voters’ register and the creation of polling units.
Chairman of the SDP Governorship Candidates Forum, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who is the Nasarawa State candidate, said the candidates would identify organisational gaps and improve electoral readiness across all levels of the polls. He attributed public discontent to economic hardship.
The other candidates present were from Oyo, Benue, Niger, Adamawa, Plateau, Kano, Gombe and Bauchi states.
