…Gabam denies allegations
The Social Democratic Party, (SDP) has plunged into crisis following the suspension of its National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, alongside National Auditor Nnadi Clarkson and National Youth Leader Chukwuma Uchechukwu, over serious allegations of financial misconduct.
Announcing the decision, SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, said the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) took the action based on overwhelming evidence linking the trio to embezzlement, misappropriation of party funds, and unauthorized transactions. Aiyenigba stressed that the suspension was necessary to uphold the party’s integrity and allow for a thorough investigation.
In the wake of the suspension, the NWC appointed Deputy National Chairman (North), Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar, as Acting National Chairman, while an interim investigative panel has been constituted to audit the party’s financial records—particularly funds generated from the sale of nomination forms in the 2023 general elections.
However, the internal turmoil escalated into violence when thugs dressed in black invaded the SDP national headquarters in Abuja. Journalists and staff were assaulted, and equipment seized before security personnel restored order. Party insiders alleged that the attack may be connected to the fallout from Gabam’s suspension and his submission of an allegedly unauthorized financial report to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has since been leaked to the media.
Reacting to the development, Gabam in a live press conference on Tuesday, rejected reports of his suspension and accused certain NWC members of being part of a larger conspiracy to destabilize the SDP. He claimed the attack on the party headquarters was orchestrated by “sponsored thugs” working with internal saboteurs and external coalition partners seeking to hijack the party.
“The system is doing everything humanly possible to ensure that no party exists,” Gabam stated. “Those who plotted this and issued that press release are agents of destabilization… They are part of a coalition that wants to bulldoze SDP into submission.”
Gabam also called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that security agencies are not used as political tools to undermine democracy, insisting that despite the provocation, the SDP remains a law-abiding and peaceful party.
Meanwhile, Aiyenigba reaffirmed the party’s commitment to transparency, saying, “SDP has zero-tolerance for corruption and abuse of office. No official found culpable will be shielded.” He confirmed that the suspensions have been communicated to INEC and relevant authorities.
