The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has promised Nigerian women a 50 per cent share in political appointments and party structures if the party wins power.
The pledge was made in Abuja as the party’s women leaders began a nationwide mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, reports Saturday Guardian.
The SDP National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Gombe, represented by the South-South Deputy National Chairman, Senator Ugochukwu Uba, said the party would make women’s inclusion a key part of its political agenda.
Uba said the party’s forthcoming manifesto would spell out specific measures to give women a stronger role in governance and decision-making.
“We are going to make provision for women. In appointments and in all organisations, it is going to be 50-50,” he said.
He said the SDP was currently undergoing restructuring to strengthen its structures and prepare for the next electoral contest.
The party leader said the SDP would not treat women’s participation as a campaign slogan, insisting that women must have a place in appointments, party activities and policy decisions.
He also urged the women leaders to take the SDP’s message to the grassroots and mobilise women across wards and communities.
The National Speaker of the SDP Women Parliament, Ambassador Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdullahi, said the women’s mobilisation was aimed at building a political structure capable of delivering electoral results.
She warned that the 2027 election would not be won through wishful thinking.
“2027 will not be won by wishful thinking. It will be won by organisation, mobilisation, sacrifice, strategy, engagement and the collective determination of our members at the grassroots,” Abdullahi said.
She challenged women leaders to establish functional structures in every state, ward and community.
According to her, the women must move from attending political meetings to actively building the structures that will determine the party’s electoral strength.
“Our mission is clear: to organise, mobilise, participate and deliver results,” she said.
Abdullahi also called for unity among SDP women, saying internal differences could weaken their influence and undermine the party’s grassroots structures.
She praised the women leaders who travelled to Abuja at their own expense, describing their sacrifice as evidence of their commitment to the party.
The SDP leadership said the forthcoming manifesto would provide more details on the party’s plans for women and other sections of society.
The party said its political ideology was anchored on the welfare provisions of Chapter Two of the Nigerian Constitution.
The meeting ended with a renewed call for SDP women leaders to return to their states and begin immediate grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
