SDP Insists on Consensus as Sole Gubernatorial Aspirant Emerges Flag Bearer for 2027

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

IBADAN – The Oyo State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has defended its consensus approach to the gubernatorial primary election, following the emergence of Honourable Oloye Saheed Oladele as the sole aspirant and duly elected candidate for the 2027 General Elections.

The party’s state chairman, Comrade Engr Michael Idowu Owokoya, confirmed that while the SDP had initially planned for a direct primary, the process ultimately defaulted to a consensus owing to the fact that only one aspirant obtained the nomination form.

Speaking at the event held on Tuesday at Orita-Challenge, Ibadan, the chairman explained: “Our intention before was to have a primary election, what we call a direct election. But as God would have it, in His mercy, we have no other contender for the gubernatorial candidacy.”

The consensus arrangement, which was unanimously adopted and endorsed by party stakeholders and members present, was conducted in line with the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act governing political party primaries, according to an official press release issued after the event.

INEC Monitors Legislative Primaries

While the gubernatorial ticket was settled by consensus, the primary elections for House of Representatives, Senate and House of Assembly seats followed a different process. These were anchored by the party’s state vice chairman and were carefully monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party chairman expressed satisfaction with the overall conduct of the exercise, telling journalists: “I’m very much happy with the turnout and how the election went. The turnout and everything is actually expected, like I said.”

He emphasised that all candidates, not just the gubernatorial flag bearer, had been selected by party members and stakeholders, rejecting any suggestion of imposition.

“We want the people to know that we didn’t just put someone that will contest for governorship or other positions,” Comrade Owokoya said. “All our candidates were selected by party members and stakeholders.”

‘2027 Is SDP’s Best Chance Since 1991’

Honourable Oloye Saheed Oladele, now officially the SDP’s gubernatorial candidate, seized the opportunity to remind party faithful of the party’s historical footprint in Oyo State.

“I want to assure us that 2027 is the best chance for SDP to produce another governor in a state after Chief Kolapo Ishola in 1991,” he declared.

The candidate, who defected from another party to join the SDP, made clear that he had not come to negotiate but to win. “If I wanted to negotiate, I would have remained at the party I defected from because of some of the opportunities that were presented at that party, but I said ‘No’,” he said.

He described the SDP as “a party with good instinct, has people with very good character and a party with great potential but lacked serious candidates in past elections.”

That deficiency, he argued, had now been remedied. “SDP is a well-known party, and all it needs is a serious candidate and that candidate is here.”

Integrity Over Inducement

In his first major policy signal since emerging as flag bearer, Hon Oladele told journalists that his campaign would reject the vote-buying tactics he accused other parties of employing.

“We won’t be sharing money the same way other parties are buying people’s conscience, but the quality representation we’re going to give them, they will be so glad,” he said.

He appealed directly to the electorate: “My expectation is that people should not sell their conscience because of money. I expect them to vote for quality representation.”

The candidate was blunt about his prospects. “There’s actually nobody that can match me in this governorship race. In 2027, there’s no alternative to me. And whoever wants the hardship in Oyo State to stop should choose me as their next governor.”

Historical Echoes of 1993

Observers note that the SDP carries particular symbolic weight in Nigeria’s political history as the party of the acclaimed winner of the 12 June 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola. Oladele, who as a young boy participated in the struggle to reclaim Abiola’s mandate and was tear-gassed during pro-democracy protests, appears to be leaning into that legacy.

His emergence under the SDP banner, coming more than three decades after Chief Kolapo Ishola governed Oyo State on the same platform, has injected a measure of historical resonance into what the party hopes will be a competitive 2027 race.

For now, the SDP has concluded its primary elections across all levels, and the party’s state secretary has signed off on an official release declaring the process peaceful, transparent and lawful.

The real contest, convincing a sceptical electorate to look beyond money politics, has only just begun.