The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has taken a decisive step toward strengthening its position for the 2027 general election by filling three key vacant leadership roles.
The National Working Committee (NWC), acting under Article 12.5 of the party’s 2022 amended constitution and with the mandate from the National Convention, appointed Senator Ugochukwu Uba as Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar as Deputy National Chairman (North), and Mr. Hussani Ado Bello as National Financial Secretary.
The appointments were announced in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, following an NWC meeting presided over by National Chairman Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam on Thursday. The statement confirmed that the trio—Senator Uba, Dr. Abubakar, and Mr. Bello—have been duly appointed and are now members of the party’s NEC.
The SDP State Chairmen’s Forum, led by Chairman Femi Olaninyi, congratulated the newly appointed NEC members and expressed gratitude to the national leadership, including the National Chairman, National Secretary, and NEC members, for their decision to bolster the party’s structure. The forum described the appointments as a clear demonstration of the SDP’s advancement and commitment to strengthening its ranks.
In a statement, Olaninyi said, “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the newly nominated members of the National Working Committee, including Dr. Sadiq Umar Gombe, who will serve as the Deputy National Chairman, North; Senator Ugochukwu Uba, the Deputy National Chairman, South, and Bello Ado Hussain, the National Financial Secretary. Your appointments signify a call to duty, and we encourage you to enhance collaboration and utilise your extensive experience for the party’s development.”
The statement further praised the leadership of National Chairman Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, noting, “The Forum of Chairmen, under the leadership of Femi Olaniyi, reaffirms our support for our party’s leadership, guided by our dedicated national chairman. His wisdom, capability, and selfless leadership have led him to scout exceptional individuals for key positions within the party across the Nigerian political landscape.” The forum prayed for divine wisdom for the new appointees to align with the chairman’s vision and achieve greater success for the SDP.
Profiles of the New Appointees:
- Senator Ugochukwu Uba (Deputy National Chairman, South), from Anambra State in the South-East Zone, is a scholar, public servant, and seasoned politician. He served as Director-General and later Commissioner in Anambra State under the SDP administration of the late Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife in 1992. Uba also worked as a member of the Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS) under the leadership of the late Professor Omo Omoruyi during the Ibrahim Babangida regime.
- Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar (Deputy National Chairman, North), from Gombe State in the North-East Zone, is a statistician with extensive political experience. He served as the SDP’s pioneer National Secretary from 2010 to 2015 and was the party’s governorship candidate in Gombe State in 2011. Abubakar also held the position of pioneer Director-General of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Nigeria, and chaired the SDP’s Convention Planning Committee in 2011.
- Mr. Hussani Ado Bello (National Financial Secretary), from Kano State in the North-West Zone, is a chartered accountant and retired civil servant who served in both the Federal and Kano Civil Service Commissions. A former chairman of the SDP in Kano State and former Chairman of the Forum of SDP State Chairmen, Bello currently works as a Finance and Tax Consultant and Public Relations Strategist.
The SDP State Chairmen’s Forum expressed optimism that the new appointees will leverage their expertise to drive the party’s growth and align with the vision of the national leadership as the SDP prepares for the 2027 general election.
