The Social Democratic Party has notified the Independent National Electoral Commission of its decision to conduct fresh governorship primaries in Gombe and Nasarawa states to replace its candidates who withdrew from the race.

The party, in a letter dated August 24, 2026, and addressed to the INEC chairman, said the primaries would be conducted through the direct primary mode.
According to the notice signed by the SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, and National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, the elections are scheduled for Saturday (today) at 11am.
The notice, titled, “Notice of Party Primary Elections to Replace Governorship Candidates of the Social Democratic Party,” and obtained by our correspondent on Friday, read, “We wish to notify and invite the commission to monitor the primary elections to substitute candidates for the governorship in view of the elected candidates who have withdrawn from the race.
Accordingly, the said party primary elections are now scheduled to be held as stated below.”
The party said the exercise would involve the “conduct of party primary elections to replace some of the governorship candidates for Gombe and Nasarawa States through the direct primary election mode.”
In Gombe State, the primary will be held at the SDP State Secretariat in Gombe, while the Nasarawa State exercise will take place at Ta’al Hotel, Lafia.
The notice was accompanied by the respective letters and affidavits of withdrawal of the candidates who had earlier emerged as the party’s standard-bearers.





