SDP suspends chairman, others amidst coalition talks

• I’m still in charge – Gabam

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) yesterday suspended its National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, over alleged financial misconduct and misappropriation of party funds.

The opposition party also suspended its National Auditor, Nnadi Clarkson, and National Youth Leader, Chukwuma Uchechukwu.

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The decision was disclosed in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba, on Tuesday

This is coming amidst ongoing talks by opposition bigwigs in the country to adopt or register a new platform that would provide them the leverage to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Aiyenigba claimed that “The suspended officials were linked to a series of unauthorised financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and diversion of funds without NWC approval.”

He also said the decision was in line with articles 19.1, 19.3(i), and 19.5 of the party’s constitution.

“The NWC of the SDP has approved the immediate suspension of Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, the national chairman, along with Nze Nnadi Clarkson and Uchechukwu Chukwuma, over grave allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, misappropriation and diversion of party funds.

“This action is to demonstrate to the general public that the SDP — generally esteemed by Nigerians as a disciplined and credible alternative political platform — has zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of office.

“The suspension is to allow for a thorough investigation. Our integrity as a political party must be upheld at all times,” he said.

The party said the decision followed a resolution reached at a meeting of the NWC where overwhelming evidence was presented against the three officials.

The statement added that Gabam had submitted an unauthorised financial statement to INEC and published a summary in newspapers, prompting the party to alert law enforcement agencies.

“This action reinforces our zero-tolerance stance on corruption,” he said. “For a thorough investigation, an interim panel has been set up to audit all financial records and recommend appropriate disciplinary or legal steps,” the party said.

Sadiq Abubakar emerges acting chair

Following the suspension of the national chairman, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Sadiq Abubakar, has been appointed Acting National Chairman in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution.

The SDP claimed that the mismanaged funds run into hundreds of millions of naira, including proceeds from the 2023 nomination form sales and donations.

The party also said INEC and relevant agencies have been officially notified of the suspension, which takes immediate effect.

Protesters pull down party’s gate

Meanwhile, protesters yesterday pulled down the main gate of the party’s National Secretariat in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja.

The protest broke out while the National Working Committee (MWC) meeting was ongoing at the party’s headquarters.

While reasons for the protest are not yet known, journalists outside the party’s secretariat were assaulted by security operatives attached to the office, denying them the right to seek further information regarding the protest.

However, officials of the FCT Police Command later came and took over the party’s secretariat.

I’m still in charge – Gabam

But reacting, Gabam said, “I remain the national chairman of the SDP, as you can see.”

Speaking with newsmen at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Gabam explained that the decision to suspend him was not taken at an official meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), arguing that it is illegal and will not stand.

He said a private legal firm had approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and requested a meeting of the party’s NWC, but the commission rejected the request.

“INEC tagged the request by the party’s national secretary to hold NWC meeting as illegal since it didn’t have my signature,” he said.

‘El-Rufai coalition wants to destroy SDP’

Gabam also accused the opposition coalition which has former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, as a key member of plots to destroy the SDP.

Recall that El-Rufai, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recently dumped the APC for the SDP with a view to challenge Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Thereafter, he joined former vice president, Atiku Abubakar; former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and other political bigwigs to form a coalition which last Thursday submitted an application to INEC for the registration of  the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) as a political party.

The ADA has the agenda to challenge the APC in the 2027 general election and possibly defeat President Tinubu like the APC did to former President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 poll.

Gabam said, “I think we had this crisis before. It is now rearing its head. Some of us understand where it is coming from because this coalition and some people in the coalition believe that at all cost, they either get SDP or create confusion around SDP.

“So many forces from so many fronts see SDP as deadly or very, very strong that they cannot manoeuvre it.”

The embattled SDP chairman, however, appealed to President Tinubu to call security agencies to order to ensure they are not used to truncate democracy.

“This is very dangerous for our democracy. The country is gone if we have leaders who don’t want to accommodate a dissenting voice. Democracy will disappear.

“We hope and I pray the president and will not allow this anarchy to continue. He will call people to order. Security agencies are somehow being used remotely to support this kind of thing. They are not doing me a disservice. It’s a disservice to the country,” Gabam said.

‘I’m ready to account for my tenure’

On the allegations against him, Gabam said he is ready to account for all transactions under his watch.

“I’m sure by the time we submit the complete printout of our account from the banks to the security agencies, they will see everything. They will see everyone whose money has gone into his account—all the NWC members. It has not excluded anybody.

“He (Agunloye) was once the chairman of the party. He should have also accounted for his tenure when he was party chairman. I’m ready to account for my tenure any minute, any time,” he added.

He also stated that the crisis was long overdue and that they had been expecting it.

“We expected this crisis for quite a while. First, we have been waiting for them to expose their entire game plan before we respond to it. Happily enough, they have officially exposed themselves today,” he added.