The Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, has disclosed what transpired in his recent meeting with former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai and allies of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The closed-door meeting, which took place at the SDP national secretariat, sparked speculations about a possible political merger ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to Gabam, the meeting was centered around conversations for a better Nigeria, rather than a political party. “There is no official statement from El-Rufai or any one of them about officially joining SDP,” Gabam clarified. “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.”
Gabam also revealed that he has been receiving dignitaries from different political parties, discussing ways to stabilize the country and offer productive advice to the government. “Once the government has a crisis, it affects every Nigerian,” Gabam emphasized. “So, part of our responsibilities is to make sure we are not facing a crisis.”
The SDP Chairman assured that there is an ongoing conversation, and when the time comes, they will arrive at a conclusion and hold an official press conference. “Once we agree on what we are going to do together, we will unveil it to all Nigerians,” Gabam promised.
Gabam’s statement comes after a chieftain of the PDP and ally of Atiku Abubakar, Segun Showunmi, described the meeting as “strategic.” Showunmi revealed that the meeting was called to review “The state of opposition democratic engagement in Nigeria” and plan a stronger opposition for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.
