• Forum of state chairmen backs NWC on chairman’s suspension
• Thugs invade party HQ as Gabam insists on chairmanship position
Chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Olu Agunloye, has confirmed that the party uncovered massive financial infractions of nearly N1 billion, implicating key members of its National Working Committee (NWC), including its now-suspended National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam.
Also, the Forum of State Chairmen of SDP has thrown its weight behind the suspension of Gabam and the appointment of Dr Sadiq Abubakar to replace him in acting capacity.
But Gabam dismissed reports of his suspension by a faction of the party’s NWC, insisting that remains the National Chairman. As tensions boiled over at the SDP headquarters, yesterday, armed thugs in black attires stormed the premises, attacking journalists and staff.
Speaking with The Guardian amid heightened tensions and visible security presence at the party’s secretariat, Agunloye described the unfolding events as the fallout of an internal anti-corruption purge that triggered retaliation from affected officials.
“When you frontally attack or expose someone, they fight back. That is exactly what is happening now,” he said, referring to reported vandalism at the secretariat, including damaged gates and doors.
The senior party official explained that the financial discrepancies were discovered during internal reviews covering 2022 and 2023, prompting the party to act swiftly by suspending Gabam, alongside the National Auditor, Nnadi Clarkson, and National Youth Leader, Uchechukwu Chukwuma.
“We suspect close to a billion naira is missing. These are donations, nomination form revenues, and all public trusts. We couldn’t sit back,” he stated, noting that since the party has no judicial authority to jail those involved, it has a constitutional obligation to suspend and investigate, while law enforcement agencies handle the criminal aspects.
The NWC, earlier in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, announced the suspension of Gabam and other members of the NWC over alleged financial misconduct. Following the new development,
However, a statement by the Chairman of the SDP Forum of State Chairmen, Femi Olaniyi, congratulated the acting chairman and reiterated the group’s support for the NWC’s decision.
The statement reads: “The Forum of State Chairmen of the SDP would like to extend our congratulations to the acting chairman on his appointment during this crucial time in our political landscape. We also express our appreciation to the NWC for making this bold and necessary decision to protect our party from individuals, who have abused the trust given to them by party stakeholders and financial members.”
Gabam, who said he remains in charge of the party, accused some proponents of the new coalition of orchestrating an illegal and desperate plot to destabilise the SDP.
Addressing journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, yesterday, Gabam said those behind his purported suspension lacked the authority and failed to follow due process.
He spoke after receiving some members of the NWC, who paid him a solidarity visit, in response to allegation against him by a faction of the NWC of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement and diversion of party funds.
Gabam also described the letter sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by a faction of the party as fraudulent. The thugs came just hours after NWC announced the suspension of Gabam and others.
While journalists gathered for a scheduled press briefing, the attackers seized cameras and phones, assaulting several reporters before security forces intervened.
Insiders say the crisis escalated when Gabam allegedly filed an unauthorised financial report to INEC and leaked details to the media, deepening distrust within the party hierarchy.
SDP said it won’t shield anyone found guilty and is determined to restore public trust by purging its ranks, even if it means tearing itself apart in the process.
