2027: SDP inaugurates 12,000-member campaign council, names Tanko coordinator

By Henry Umoru ABUJA — Ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has inaugurated a 12,000-member Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, with Dr Yunusa Tanko appointed as its National Coordinator. The SDP National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Gombe, who will also serve as chairman of the council, inaugurated the campaign council on Wednesday in Abuja.

Gombe charged members of the council to work towards securing electoral victory for the party, stressing that its campaign must be issue-based, people-centred and guided by the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines and the party’s constitution. He urged members to approach the election with the seriousness it deserved, adding that the party was determined to challenge President Bola Tinubu at the polls.

“Let us approach this election with the seriousness it deserves to unseat President Tinubu. “Our campaign must be issue-based, people-centred and firmly rooted in the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, INEC guidelines and our party constitution. “We must earn the confidence of Nigerians through credible engagement, persuasion, effective organisation and practical policy alternatives.

“We must reject violence, intimidation, electoral malpractice and every conduct capable of undermining the integrity of our democracy,” he said. The SDP chairman described Nigeria as being at a critical crossroads, citing insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, poverty, institutional weaknesses and declining public confidence in governance as some of the challenges confronting the country.

According to him, Nigerians are yearning for purposeful leadership, economic opportunities, social justice, security and accountability, as well as a government that prioritises their welfare and dignity. He said the SDP was determined to provide Nigerians with a credible democratic alternative founded on social justice, equity, freedom, inclusive development and good governance.

Gombe urged members of the campaign council to take the party’s message to communities across the country, engage citizens respectfully, listen to their concerns and demonstrate through their conduct that the party deserved their confidence. He further charged the council to ensure that the party’s campaign remained peaceful, credible and focused on offering practical solutions to the country’s challenges.