As the Social Democratic Party (SDP) continues to consolidate its leadership structure ahead of the 2027 general elections, recent claims by the South East Zonal Chairman, Chief Arinze Ekelem, purporting to debunk the appointment of Distinguished Senator (Dr.) Ugochukwu Uba as Deputy National Chairman (South), have raised serious concerns among stakeholders and party faithfuls. However, credible facts and records emerging from the national headquarters of the party strongly affirm the legitimacy of Senator Uba’s appointment and expose what many now describe as a personal vendetta driven by parochial interests.
On May 15, 2025, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the SDP, under the chairmanship of Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, convened in Abuja to fill key vacant leadership positions in accordance with the party’s constitution and the mandate of the National Convention. At the end of the meeting, the NWC officially appointed three distinguished Nigerians into leadership positions — among them, Senator Ugochukwu Uba as the Deputy National Chairman (South). The announcement was publicly communicated by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, with a detailed profile of each appointee.
It is therefore perplexing, obnoxious and misleading for a subordinate structure like the South East Zonal arm of the party, led by Mr. Arinze Ekelem, to attempt to overturn a legitimate decision of the National Working Committee. The authority to make, validate, or nullify such national appointments lies solely with the National Working Committee — not a zonal vice chairman whose jurisdiction falls directly under the zone now constitutionally led by Senator Uba. This alone invalidates the public statement issued by Mr. Ekelem and raises questions of gross insubordination.
What makes it more troubling and scandalous is that this is not the first time Senator Ugochukwu Uba has served the SDP in various strategic capacities, and at no point in the past was his membership ever questioned by Ekelem. In April 2022, Uba served as Secretary of the National Election Committee. In June of the same year, he was a Member of the National Convention Committee. He went on to serve as Chairman of the National Presidential Technical Committee in August 2022, and was later appointed Deputy Chairman of the SDP National Presidential Council in November 2022. These were no minor roles — they were all sensitive assignments directly sanctioned by the National Secretariat of the SDP.
Furthermore, Senator Uba also functioned as a member of the Convention Organizing Committee in 2022 and was assigned to the sub-committee on Elections, which conducted the very process that brought the current NWC into office. He later served as Director of Finance for the SDP Presidential Campaign from 2022 to 2023, and was also a member of the Party’s Special Committee on Strategy. These roles reinforce the long-standing trust the national leadership has had in Senator Uba, whose academic and political credentials remain unmatched and portray Arinze Ekekem as either a rabid joke or deliberate nuisance.
Senator Ugochukwu Uba is not just a politician; he is a consummate academic and public servant. He holds a first-class degree and a PhD in Political Science. He previously served as a Director General and Honourable Commissioner under the SDP government in Anambra State in 1992, was a Distinguished Senator representing Anambra South from 2003 to 2007, and a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport. He is also credited with the passage of the landmark Cabotage Act, which turned around Nigeria’s Maritime Industry. Beyond politics, he has contributed to academia as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Abuja until 2021 and, importantly, as a former Senior Lecturer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).
It is therefore shocking and suspicious that the South East zonal leader, Mr. Arinze Ekelem, would claim that Senator Uba is not a card-carrying member of the SDP. If that were true, how was he qualified to serve in numerous national roles under the same party over the years? Why did the same individuals never raise any objections until his latest appointment to a position they apparently covet? This appears to be conspiratorial and aimed to subvert party directives.
Evidently, Mr. Ekelem’s current outburst is nothing but a thinly veiled act of personal vendetta. His grievances appear to stem from the fact that someone from his own state — Anambra — was appointed to a national position that he perhaps assumed would be handed to him. Ironically, records indicate that in 2022, Mr. Ekelem had the opportunity to choose between contesting for Deputy National Chairman (South) or retaining his current position as Zonal Chairman. He chose the latter. It is, therefore, baffling and curious that he would now turn around to fight his own brother from the same state of Anambra, who accepted the very post he declined.
Even more disturbing is the question: what exactly is Mr. Ekelem trying to achieve by fighting his own kinsman while other zones of the SDP have acknowledged Senator Uba’s appointment and are already working harmoniously with him to strengthen the party? Rather than building bridges and uniting the region for electoral success, Mr. Ekelem appears committed to sowing seeds of discord and driving away competent party members at a time when other parties are actively welcoming experienced politicians into their folds ahead of 2027.
Instead of aligning with the broader vision of the national leadership to grow the party, Chief Arinze Ekelem has embarked on unnecessary controversies, targeting key individuals and causing unhealthy rivalry within the SDP. His pattern of behavior — attacking fellow members, dismissing national decisions, and creating intra-party conflict — is a recipe for the destruction of the party’s unity and strength in the South East and questions his loyalty to the party, especially in this season of defections and anti party accusations.
In a recent media interaction, Senator Ugochukwu Uba called on the National Working Committee to take a firm stance on the unbecoming actions of Mr. Ekelem. He urged the leadership to investigate and address his excesses, suggesting that Mr. Ekelem may be acting in the interest of rival political forces. “His actions bear the hallmarks of someone working to weaken our chances in 2027 from within,” Senator Uba remarked.
This sentiment is widely shared by many party stakeholders, who believe that if Mr. Ekelem’s behavior is not checked, it could jeopardize the SDP’s prospects not just in the South East but nationally.
In conclusion, the appointment of Senator Ugochukwu Uba as Deputy National Chairman (South) remains valid, constitutional, and in line with the party’s internal procedures. The only body with the authority to review or alter this appointment is the National Working Committee — not any zonal structure. All well-meaning members of the SDP are hereby encouraged to disregard the false claims made by Chief Arinze Ekelem and instead support the national leadership’s effort to consolidate, expand, and position the party for victory in 2027.
The time to unite is now. The SDP must not allow internal saboteurs to derail the path to 2027. Every serious party is currently consolidating its strength. We cannot afford to waste time on petty rivalries and destructive egos.
Ekelem should be stopped from using the South East zone as a pawn in his selfish game. The SDP is bigger than any individual. His activities constitute gross indiscipline and sabotage against the party and call for serious disciplinary action as a deterrent against future subversive attempts.
