…SDP appoints acting chairman, begins full-scale financial audit
…Armed men invade Abuja office, journalists assaulted
…Internal rift escalates after fake report sent to INEC by suspended chairman
… SDP State Leaders Endorse Removal of Gabam, Demand Probe of Party Finances
Violence broke out at the national headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja on Tuesday as the party’s internal power tussle turned chaotic following the suspension of three top officials, including National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, over alleged large-scale financial misconduct.
A group of armed men dressed in black stormed the party’s Abuja office around 11:45 a.m., overpowering security guards and forcibly entering the premises.
Reporters covering the planned briefing were physically assaulted, with several cameras and phones seized. Witnesses said the men forced entry to allow a vehicle carrying a party chieftain into the compound.
Plainclothes security officers at the scene reportedly seized the phones of two journalists who attempted to record the confrontation. The devices were returned only after the intervention of a senior police officer. Calm was restored following the deployment of a joint team of Nigeria Police, State Security Service, and civil defence operatives.
The SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) formally announced the immediate suspension of Alhaji Shehu Gabam, National Auditor, Nze Nnadi Clarkson, and National Youth Leader, Uchechukwu Chukwuma. The suspensions followed an emergency NWC meeting earlier in the day.
According to a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rufus Aiyenigba, the action was taken under the powers granted by the Party Constitution, Articles 19.1, 19.3(i), and 19.5.
“The National Working Committee of the Social Democratic Party has approved the immediate suspension of the National Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, along with two members of the NWC—Nze Nnadi Clarkson and Uchechukwu Chukwuma—over grave allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, misappropriation, and diversion of party funds,” Aiyenigba stated.
He confirmed that the suspensions were based on “overwhelming evidences linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorized financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and movement of funds from the party’s accounts without necessary approvals.”
The NWC further accused Alhaji Gabam of submitting an unauthorised financial report to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and publishing the document without committee approval.
Aiyenigba stated that “the action of the NWC to suspend the National Chairman and two members of the NWC involved in the gross financial misconduct is to demonstrate to the general public that the Party, generally esteemed by Nigerians as a disciplined party and a credible alternative political platform for national redemption, has zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of office.”
In the aftermath of the suspensions, the NWC appointed Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar, Deputy National Chairman (North), as Acting National Chairman pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The statement added: “An interim investigative panel has been constituted to audit all financial records and recommend further disciplinary or legal actions.”
Aiyenigba disclosed that the audit would focus on transactions involving “hundreds of millions of naira,” including “donations and resources realised from the sales of nomination forms in the 2023 general elections and other funds from the party accounts.”
He said the party “will not shield any individual found guilty.”
“Our integrity as a political party must be upheld at all times,” the spokesman added.
The SDP has officially notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), anti-corruption bodies, and relevant security agencies of the suspensions and the establishment of the probe panel.
The party reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and internal discipline as it moves to recover public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Our goal is to restore public confidence in the SDP as a credible alternative for national leadership,” Aiyenigba said.
The suspended officials have not issued any public statement in response to the allegations.
Meanwhile, The Forum of State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has declared support for the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, by the National Working Committee (NWC).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the forum backed the appointment of Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar as Acting National Chairman and called for full investigations into alleged misconduct by suspended party officials.
The NWC had earlier announced the suspension of Gabam and other executives over allegations of financial mismanagement. The announcement was made in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba.
Chairman of the Forum, Femi Olaniyi, who signed the statement, congratulated Dr. Abubakar and described the suspension as a bold and necessary move to rescue the party from internal decay.
“This is a crucial time in our political landscape. The NWC made a necessary decision to protect the party from individuals who abused the trust given to them,” the statement said.
Olaniyi also accused some of the suspended officials of behaving like gangsters and misappropriating party funds.
“Despite substantial funds belonging to the party, some state chapters are still struggling to pay office rent. We are alarmed by this,” he added.
The Forum expressed full backing for the NWC’s decision and pledged to support the committee’s efforts to sanitise the party.
“We assure you that all state executives of the party stand behind the National Working Committee in this matter. We will provide our full support in the collective interest of the party,” the statement added.