Twist as INEC allegedly rejects appointment of new National Deputy Chairman, other officers for SDP

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By Madu Obi

The alleged appointment of three national officers of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, including that of Senator Ugochukwu Uba as the Deputy National Chairman ((South) of the party, has taken a new twist, as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was said to have rejected them.

Reason for the rejection was not immediately given, but the said appointments by some members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, were said to be improper.

National Youth Leader of SDP, Dr Uchenna Ogbu said the appointments could not have stood because the right processes were not followed.

"In SDP, there are processes of appointment. Deputy National Chairman is not a position someone will just wake up and say he has been appointed.

There are processes that have to be followed and the deputy national secretary of our party has already set the records straight, by stating that there was never an appointment of Deputy National Chairman (South)", he stated.

It was gathered that the three people rejected by INEC have been making spirited efforts to contact their wards, apparently for proper documentation.

The South East National Vice Chairman of SDP, Chief Arinze Ekelem had earlier said that the South East region had since debunked the purported appointment of Uba as Deputy National Chairman (South).

He said that he had since declared interest in the position of the Deputy National Chairman (South), which will be contested for during the party's convention.

"Any claim regarding any appointment of the leadership position within the party is false, misleading, and does not reflect the resolutions or discussions of the meeting of the NWC.

"No such decision was taken at the meeting of the National Working Committee held on 15th May 2025 at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. The alleged appointment is therefore null, void, and of no effect whatsoever," Ekelem said.

He urged SDP members to disregard any information on appointment and remain committed to the integrity, values, and due process that guide the affairs of the party.