By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Niger state chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Buhari Yakubu Yerima has debunked speculations that the party is factionalized and stands no chance of making any impact in the coming Local Government Council (LGC) election.
Yakubu Yerima made the clarifications in an interview, described claims of crisis in the party and that some members are lobbying Governor Umar Bago for political appointments as the handiwork of mischief makers seeking for public attention.
Contrary to insinuations that the ruling party has no challenger, Yerima told our correspondent that the SDP fielded chairmanship and councillorship seats across the 25 LGAs of the state.
According to him, "SDP is not factionalized, we are one united family and I am the chairman. We are very much in the race and ready for the 1st of November, 2025 local government elections in Niger state".
"We have fielded credible candidates for both the Chairmanship and Councillorship positions in all the 25 LGAs of the state".
The party chairman also hinted that plans are underway for the official flag-off campaigns within the month, during which all the chairmanship candidates will be presented with party flag.
Among dignitaries expected during the flag-off included; members of the National Working Committee; former Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufa'i, Major Hamza Almustapha (rtd);
Others are; the Presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections, Barrister Adewole Adebayo, and Dr. Mrs. Dorothy Nuhu, who was also the party's Presidential aspirant in the 2023 election.
"We have full executive structures in all the 25 Local Government Areas and 274 Wards", describing claims of crisis within the party as the imaginations of those behind it.
On lobbying for positions by some individuals within the party, Yerima said, "I don't know about who is lobbying Bago for appointment. As a Party we are not doing that and we will never do that". NNL.
