The leadership crisis rocking the Social Democratic Party (SDP) took a dramatic turn on Friday as the warring factions led by Alhaji Shehu Gabam and Dr. Olu Agunloye were dissolved to pave the way for a new National Working Committee (NWC) under the leadership of Adamu Modibo.

The decision was taken during an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, which was attended by chairmen from 23 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.

Alhaji Shehu Gabam previously served as the National Chairman of the party, while Dr. Olu Agunloye held the position of National Secretary.

Following his emergence as Acting National Chairman, Adamu Modibo vowed to steer the party out of its current crisis and reunite the rank and file.

“It is a great challenge, and we are ready for it,” Modibo said. “As you are aware, the party is in crisis. We are going to do our best to unite this party. All actions instituted by the former NWC members of both factions are hereby stepped aside.

“We are drawing a line. We will constitute a new disciplinary committee and a reconciliation committee to explore the possibility of reconciling the warring factions and taking disciplinary action where necessary. All standing committees are hereby dissolved pending the formation of new ones.”

Also speaking at the meeting, Deputy National Secretary Ibrahim Mohammed Biu, who was elected Financial Secretary in the new NWC, explained how the crisis escalated.

“In the last couple of months, our party has unfortunately been engulfed in a leadership crisis,” Biu said. “A group loyal to the National Secretary suspended the National Chairman over allegations of misappropriation and fraud. The National Chairman denied these allegations and dismissed appointments made by the Secretary’s faction as illegal, leading to clashes at the national secretariat.

“These developments led to intervention by security agencies and a series of counter-allegations. Efforts by the NEC to reconcile both groups proved abortive and have now led to disillusionment among our teeming supporters.”

Biu noted that the party had gained considerable momentum over the past year, attracting senators, former governors, and members of the National Assembly. “This crisis, however, has put all that progress at risk. We could not stand by and watch years of hard work unravel. That’s why the NEC decided to act.”

Agunloye Rejects NEC Decision, Labels Meeting Illegal

In a swift reaction, Dr. Olu Agunloye, the embattled National Secretary of the party and leader of one of the dissolved factions, rejected the outcome of the NEC meeting, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional.

In a statement issued on Thursday, July 24, a day before the meeting, Agunloye said: “The National Working Committee (NWC), at its meeting held today, passed a resolution dissociating itself and the national leadership of the party from the so-called NEC meeting being convened by Probity Law Firm for Friday, July 25, 2025, in Abuja.

“The NWC urges all our elected federal and state legislators, Zonal Officers, and State Chairmen to disregard this illegal and irregular NEC meeting.”

Agunloye further alleged that the initiators of the meeting — Messrs Bissallah, Modibo, and Ekpeyong — had been warned that their actions were unconstitutional. He claimed that despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) distancing itself from the meeting, some state chairmen’s signatures were misused to legitimize it.

“Thirteen state chairmen had already submitted sworn affidavits as of July 23, 2025, to the INEC Chairman, dissociating themselves from the Bissallah-Modibo NEC call,” Agunloye stated.

He called on all party leaders and members to remain vigilant and avoid actions that could breach the SDP constitution.

The development signals a new phase in the leadership tussle that has plagued the SDP in recent months, casting uncertainty over the party’s future direction and cohesion ahead of forthcoming elections.