Shehu Gabam Returns as SDP Chairman as Party Expels Rival Faction Leaders

Abimbola Akeem Atanda has been chosen as the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) presidential candidate for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The decision was announced on Wednesday, May 20, at the party’s National Convention and Presidential Primary, held at the Bola Tinubu Conference Centre in Abuja.

Delegates from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory elected Atanda by a voice vote, signaling a new chapter for the party.

The convention also reinstated Shehu Gabam as SDP National Chairman and ratified members of the National Working Committee (NWC), who will steer the party through the upcoming campaign period and beyond.

In a significant shake-up, the Gabam-led faction expelled the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, along with factional National Chairman Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe, National Secretary Olu Agunloye, and other NWC members aligned with Gombe. They were accused of engaging in anti-party activities.

Barrister Abubakar Jubril Baba, chairman of the Convention Electoral Committee, described the voice vote as “critical to the future of the party.”

After his re-election, Gabam emphasized that the party had overcome a crisis that once threatened its foundation, now positioning itself as a credible alternative for Nigerians.

“Today is not merely a convention day; it is a testimony that institutions still matter…when men and women choose principles over personal ambition, democracy survives,” Gabam said.

He also urged Nigerians to remain hopeful despite national challenges, citing that even developed countries have endured difficult periods.

Deputy National Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Biu highlighted the party’s resilience and adherence to due process, noting that the successful nationwide ward, local government, and state congresses had restored stability and confidence in SDP’s structures.

Atanda, the newly elected presidential candidate, expressed confidence that SDP would offer Nigerians a “credible alternative” to the ruling All Progressives Congress, promising leadership that listens and delivers results.