The Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Shehu Gabam, addressed speculation surrounding a potential political merger following his meeting with former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai and allies of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The closed-door meeting, which took place at the SDP national secretariat on Tuesday, sparked rumors about a possible coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Gabam clarified that there was no official statement from El-Rufai or any of his associates about joining the SDP, noting that the discussions were focused on broader issues aimed at improving Nigeria’s future, rather than political party affiliations. He emphasized that the party is engaging with individuals and groups who share a vision for the country’s progress, and that the media attention had been disproportionately focused on El-Rufai and Atiku’s allies, despite other political dignitaries also meeting with the SDP to discuss national matters.
The SDP leader stressed the importance of offering productive advice to the current government to prevent potential crises that could negatively affect the nation. He stated that part of the party’s responsibility is ensuring that the government does not face crises that could harm the citizens.
While the discussions are still ongoing, Gabam assured that an official announcement would be made at the appropriate time. He explained that the initial phase of the talks has involved social gatherings and conversations about national issues, with other influential figures already engaged in the discussions.
Gabam welcomed these developments, describing them as a normal part of the SDP’s process of engaging with various stakeholders. He reaffirmed that the primary goal of the party is to prioritize Nigeria’s welfare above political considerations. The SDP is committed to contributing to the country’s political stability, economic prosperity, and overall peace, with the aim of playing a positive role in Nigeria’s future.
“There is no official statement from El-Rufai or any one of them about officially joining SDP. So, as I said, they are open to conversation and negotiations for a better Nigeria. It’s not about a political party; it’s about the future of Nigeria.
“We are looking for like-minded people who believe in the future of the country so that we can work together and uplift the individual standard of Nigeria.
“It’s not just them. The attention of the media only went to them. I have received a lot of dignitaries from different political parties in the office, discussing the way forward, how to stabilise the country, and how to offer productive, progressive advice to this government so that there will not be a crisis.
“Because once the government has a crisis, it affects every Nigerian. So, part of our responsibilities is to make sure we are not facing a crisis. When the time comes, we will decide what to do about other things.
“There is an ongoing conversation. When the time comes, we will arrive at a conclusion, and we will hold an official press conference.
“Once we agree on what we are going to do together, we will unveil it to all Nigerians. But at the preliminary stage, we are having our own social gatherings and discussing national issues.
“So, principally, that’s what we are doing. More like-minded people are already on board. So today, there are other heavyweights involved, with whom we are discussing. To me, it’s a normal thing, a normal routine that I go through in the office all the time.
“So, it’s a welcome development, not just for those of us that met, but for everyone willing to come on board. SDP is a responsible party by history and analysis, and we will continue to provide decent leadership for Nigeria.
“Our interest is our country first, above any other consideration. We want to have a peaceful country, a well-coordinated country, economic prosperity, political stability for investors, and so on.
“We don’t have any other objective other than that. So we are playing our role as an opposition party, just the way APC played its role and ousted PDP from power,” Gabam stated.
