2027: SDP Unveils 12,000-Member Campaign Council

Party deploys multilingual manifesto on 109 radio stations, builds grassroots machinery to challenge Tinubu

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has unveiled a 12,000-member presidential campaign council for the 2027 general elections, signalling an ambitious effort to build a nationwide political structure capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and competing for electoral victory across the country.

In a major communication strategy, the party also disclosed that it had translated its manifesto into Nigeria’s major spoken languages, with audio versions already being broadcast on 109 radio stations covering all the country’s senatorial districts.

The National Chairman of the SDP, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, who will also head the campaign council, unveiled the structure in Abuja on Wednesday, directing members to begin mobilisation immediately.

Gombe described the inauguration as a shift from political planning to active electoral engagement, saying the party could no longer afford to operate through committees without a functional campaign machinery.

He said the 12,000-member council would merge the party’s campaign structure with that of its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, creating a coordinated network stretching from the national headquarters to individual polling units.

The structure will cover the six geopolitical zones, 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, local governments, wards and polling units, with responsibilities and performance targets assigned across the various levels.

Gombe charged members to approach the assignment with determination, stressing that the SDP was preparing not merely to participate in the 2027 elections but to win.

He identified insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, poverty and declining public confidence in governance as major challenges confronting Nigeria.

According to him, Nigerians are yearning for leadership that can guarantee security, economic opportunities, social justice, accountability and inclusive development.

He said the SDP was positioning itself as a credible democratic alternative built on equity, freedom and good governance.

A central feature of the party’s campaign is its multilingual manifesto initiative, which Gombe said would enable Nigerians to understand its policies regardless of their educational background, location or preferred language.

He said the manifesto’s audio versions were already being aired on 109 radio stations, providing coverage across all 109 senatorial districts.

Gombe described the initiative as an effort to take political communication beyond written documents and reach ordinary citizens in languages they understand.

He also claimed that the SDP was the only political party with a comprehensive manifesto detailing its vision, policies and programmes ahead of the 2027 elections.

Beyond its electoral preparations, the party said it was engaging other opposition parties and democratic stakeholders to promote credible, free and fair elections.

Gombe said the collaboration would focus on protecting electoral institutions, strengthening safeguards against manipulation and ensuring transparency in the voting process.

He, however, warned party members and candidates against violence, intimidation and electoral malpractice, insisting that the SDP would pursue its ambitions through constitutional and peaceful democratic means.

The chairman also cautioned governorship, presidential and legislative candidates against allowing personal ambitions to undermine the party’s collective interest.

He said the presidential campaign must complement the electoral efforts of candidates seeking seats in the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly and other elective positions.

Gombe urged women and young people to take leading roles in the campaign, describing their energy, creativity and participation as critical to building a formidable political movement.

He further argued that the outcome of the 2027 elections would carry significance beyond Nigeria, with Africa and the wider black world looking towards the country for democratic leadership.

With its 12,000-member campaign council, multilingual manifesto and radio outreach across 109 senatorial districts, the SDP is seeking to build a campaign that combines grassroots mobilisation with direct communication of its policy proposals.

The party’s presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, is expected to lead the challenge against Tinubu in the 2027 presidential contest.