• Forum Of State Chairmen Backs Action

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the suspension of its National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, along with two members of the NWC, over allegations bordering on conspiracy, fraud, misappropriation of party funds and gross breach of the party’s constitution.
 
In a letter dated June 25, 2025, and addressed to the INEC chairman, the SDP said the decision to suspend the trio was reached at a scheduled NWC meeting held on Tuesday, June 24, which INEC had been invited to observe, and for which security arrangements were made following intelligence reports of a planned disruption.
 
Suspended alongside Gabam were the National Auditor, Mr Clarkson Nnadi, and the National Youth Leader, Mr. Ogbonna Uchechukwu. The party alleged that the three officials were involved in unauthorised withdrawals from the party’s accounts, diversion of funds and financial dealings amounting to hundreds of millions of naira without due process, approval or valid documentation in line with the party’s constitution.
 
According to the letter to INEC by the party’s National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, “the NWC considered the submissions and resolutions before it and subsequently approved the suspension in accordance with the powers vested in the NWC by the 2012 Constitution of the party as amended.”
 
The party described the suspension of the trio as necessary and in its best interests, noting that the suspended members would remain barred from all party activities pending the conclusion of internal disciplinary proceedings and criminal investigations.
 
Meanwhile, state chairmen of the party have thrown their weight behind the suspension of the party’s national chairman.  Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the Forum of SDP State Chairmen applauded the NWC for taking a “principled and constitutionally-grounded decision” to suspend Gabam, Nnadi and Chukwuma.
 
Speaking on behalf of the forum, the Lagos State chapter chairman, Femi Olaniyi Ferari, insisted that contrary to public perception, the party was not in crisis but undergoing necessary cleansing to protect its soul and prepare it for national leadership.
 
“We are committed to internal democracy and cannot continue to criticise the ruling party’s corruption while ignoring the rot within. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands,” Ferari declared.
 
They expressed outrage over the alleged financial misconduct by Gabam, Nnadi, and Chukuwma, describing their suspension as long overdue and in line with the wishes of party members at the grassroots.
 
The forum accused the suspended national chairman of running the party like a personal fiefdom. “No state chapter has received any funds from the money raised,” they alleged. “Whenever we inquire about our dues, we encounter threats of removal or suspension. Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop.”
 
According to them, the suspension followed due procedure as provided in the party’s constitution.
 
“We call for an immediate investigation into all allegations in a transparent, honest and fair manner,” they said, offering to nominate a state chairman to serve on the Disciplinary Investigation Panel.
 
The forum also urged the current acting leadership of the party to convene a NEC meeting immediately and allow the investigative panel a free hand to work.
 
Calling on the INEC not to meddle in the internal affairs of the party, the state leaders warned against any action that could ferment “the yeast of instability”.  
 
“The public impression that INEC has shown a tendency to dabble into the internal affairs of political parties should not be extended to the SDP,” they warned.