Olu Agunloye, the National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has reaffirmed that the party has no intention of merging with any political group and will strongly oppose any attempts by new members to take over its structure.
In a statement dated March 21, Agunloye noted that while the party has recently welcomed members from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they must abide by the SDP’s constitution and guiding principles.
He emphasized that despite the influx of new members with different interests, the party’s core values would remain unchanged.
He criticized the APC and PDP for their governance since 1999, blaming them for economic hardship, corruption, electoral irregularities, and insecurity, which he said have fueled poverty and youth unemployment.
According to him, these challenges have made it crucial for the SDP to emerge as a credible alternative for Nigerians seeking real change.
Agunloye urged SDP leaders and state chairmen to actively engage citizens in the push for good governance, stating that this responsibility should not fall solely on the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam. He described the SDP as a party guided by vision and ideology, distinguishing itself as a trustworthy platform for progress.
He acknowledged that among the new entrants into the party, some were genuinely interested in good governance, while others sought to dominate the party structure for personal ambitions, contest the 2027 elections, or even sabotage the party. However, he assured that the SDP would remain committed to transparency and social justice while ensuring a fair integration of both old and new members.
Despite welcoming new members, Agunloye firmly stated that the SDP would not engage in mergers, submit to merger agreements, or accept any “Takeover” strategy aimed at changing the party’s identity, constitution, or manifesto. He stressed that the party would learn from the failures of previous political alliances to avoid similar pitfalls.
He further revealed that the SDP is strengthening its internal structures by improving membership registration, reinforcing its constitutional frameworks, and enhancing various departments and directorates. He emphasized that the party’s strategy for growth must be carefully managed to ensure lasting success.
Leave a Reply