2027: SDP Chairman Details Upcoming Meeting with INEC, Awaiting Confirmation

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) chairman, Sadiq Umar Abubakar, revealed details about a meeting held on Monday between the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), headed by Chairman Joash Amupitan.

After the meeting, Abubakar told reporters that it was productive and that the SDP is now awaiting INEC’s decision.

He explained that the meeting was called at the SDP’s request as part of an effort to find an alternative resolution to the party’s current crisis.

Abubakar also confirmed that the SDP NWC, which he leads, was duly elected and ratified at the party’s recent Bauchi Convention.

According to him, former SDP chairman Shehu Musa Gabam has been legally suspended from the party since March 9, 2026.

He criticized the judgment that relied on INEC to list Gabam as the opposition party’s chairman.

“We are here because we respect INEC; that is why we accepted the invitation to seek an alternative resolution,” he said.

Abubakar added that he was surprised when the INEC chairman stated that he had not received the SDP’s correspondence regarding Gabam’s suspension.

“We are also astonished that the INEC chairman claims he has not seen our communications from the suspension expulsion on 24 June 2025 up to other issues related to the expansion of government and soul. We have copies—actually acknowledged copies from INEC—attached by the national secretary to the report for him to review. We are now waiting to hear from them,” he explained.

The comments come amid a leadership crisis that erupted after INEC listed Shehu Gabam as SDP chairman, contrary to the decision of the party’s members at its recent national convention.

Daily Post reports that Abubakar was elected as SDP chairman at the party’s convention in Bauchi State.