National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, shared his thoughts with Dirisu Yakubu on the party’s decision to challenge the National Assembly elections in several states, among other issues. When asked about his general assessment of the February 25 presidential election, Gabam explained that the SDP has taken an official position. “We stand by the law that established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and we acknowledge that INEC is the only institution authorized to conduct an election and declare results. INEC declared Senator Bola Tinubu the winner, and we accept that declaration,” he said. The party has advised aggrieved political parties to pursue legal remedies, and the SDP itself will challenge the parliamentary elections because it disagrees with the processes used. “We conceded the presidential election—we did not win it—but we did win some senatorial and House of Representatives seats, and those winners have been issued certificates of return by INEC,” Gabam added. He emphasized that politics is about demonstrating capability and building public opinion, and therefore he would not comment further, leaving the matter to the courts.
Regarding expectations for the SDP in the presidential election, Gabam rejected any blame on the “parallel executive” led by Alfa Mohammed. “The party leaders were part of INEC transactions; the people you mention were not involved in anything. Our leaders were elected at a convention. Those seeking empty opportunities or vultures feeding on dead bodies are irrelevant now. We have outgrown that era, and attempts to de‑market the party have failed,” he asserted. He noted that despite heavy interference from other parties and individuals suggesting the SDP endorsed another presidential candidate, the party did not sacrifice any of its candidates after they had invested resources, energy, and time in campaigning. “It makes no sense for a decent person to abandon candidates for ‘chicken change.’ Those impersonating us are already under police investigation,” he warned.
When questioned about the SDP’s overall performance, Gabam said the party did very well in both the presidential and National Assembly elections, especially considering the resources available to rival parties. “The All Progressives Congress (APC) controls the government and all its resources. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has governors, senators, and members of the House of Representatives, plus other revenue streams. Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi was a two‑term governor, chairman of several establishments, and a former vice‑presidential candidate, giving him a significant advantage. Similarly, Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party was a two‑term governor, former minister, and board member of many entities, providing him with ample resources.” Despite these disadvantages, Gabam argued that the SDP’s votes reflected genuine support, not money‑driven vote‑buying. “People voted for us because we defended the party’s credibility and revamped its image. We were present in every media space, discussing issues. As the oldest of the eighteen parties that contested, we perhaps raised expectations, but we succeeded in winning some senatorial and House seats despite a climate of corruption and inducement.”
Gabam called on the Nigerian media to recognize genuine efforts by political parties and to encourage those performing well. “We have no access to government funds; we relied on credibility and promotion of the SDP’s values. We are gathering our facts and will challenge several parliamentary results that are extremely controversial. We hope the judicial system will deliver justice to all parties that present their cases.”
On the performance of INEC, Gabam said, “INEC has declared a winner, and some parties intend to challenge that decision in court. It is fair to let the courts determine whether INEC’s decision was correct.” He acknowledged flaws in INEC’s process, noting that it conflicted with the President’s assurance of free and fair elections. “The presidential election cannot be categorized as free and fair, but the country must move on. Decency and patriotism must prevail, and we seek peace in Nigeria. No one should disrupt that peace.” He stressed that the judiciary, not extrajudicial actions, should resolve electoral disputes. Regarding the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Gabam said the device itself was not problematic, but its operators mishandled it. “If properly used, BVAS could have prevented the current emotional outpouring. In Rivers State, reports indicate BVAS was not used in the presidential election, leading to scandals.”
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