SDP did not authorise anyone for coalition talks — Shehu Gabam

By Lawrence Agbo

Shehu Gabam, the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, has said the party did not authorise anyone to represent it in recent coalition talks involving opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Gabam dismissed reports linking the SDP to a coalition meeting held in Oyo State, insisting that the party was not officially part of the gathering.

“We have not attended any coalition. We have not authorized anybody to represent us. No, there was no SDP there,” he said.

Gabam maintained that while internal disagreements exist within the party, such disputes are normal in every political organisation and should not be interpreted as signs of collapse.

According to him, no major political party is free from internal wrangling, adding that crises can sometimes strengthen party structures by exposing individual interests and commitment.

“There’s no party that is perfect in terms of administration. Every party that is a force to be reckoned with has its own internal wrangles. Crisis strengthens political parties,” he stated.

The SDP chairman admitted that the party’s recent internal crisis had affected its organisational strength and capacity, but said efforts were ongoing to reconcile aggrieved members and reposition the party ahead of key electoral activities.

He also noted that the party had continued to operate independently despite political pressures, stressing that the SDP was capable of standing on its own without immediately joining alliances.

“We’ve been standing alone; we’ve been facing the consequences. If you don’t stand alone, it means you have no capacity to drive the system,” he said.

However, Shehu Gabam left the door open for future alliances, saying the party could consider partnerships if they become necessary and beneficial for the country.

“If there’s a need for us to do an alliance, we’ll do it. There’s no doubt about that,” he added.

He further urged politicians to avoid bitterness and selfish interests, warning that unnecessary tension in the political space could weaken Nigeria’s democracy.