Violence erupted at the national secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja on Tuesday as suspected thugs reportedly loyal to embattled National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, disrupted a press briefing and attacked journalists, deepening the party’s already boiling leadership crisis.
The chaos followed a resolution earlier in the day by a faction of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) suspending Gabam and two other key officials over alleged financial impropriety.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the NWC announced the immediate suspension of the National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, National Auditor, Nnadi Clarkson and the National Youth Leader, Chukwuma Uchechukwu.
“The decision followed resolutions made by members of the NWC, where overwhelming evidence was presented linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorised financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and movement of funds from the party’s accounts without the committee’s approval,” Aiyenigba said.
He also alleged that Gabam submitted an unauthorised financial statement to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), sparking concerns among party leaders.
Following the suspension, the NWC announced the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Sadiq Umar Abubakar, as Acting National Chairman, pending the outcome of internal investigations.
Aiyenigba further disclosed the formation of an interim investigative panel to audit the party’s financial records, review funds from the nomination form sales ahead of the 2023 elections and recommend legal actions against those found culpable.
“The party will not shield any individual found guilty. Our goal is to restore public confidence in the SDP as a credible alternative for national leadership,” Aiyenigba said.
The suspension has since been communicated to INEC and relevant authorities, the statement noted.
As journalists gathered at the party’s secretariat to cover the developments, suspected thugs reportedly loyal to Gabam stormed the premises, attacking members of the press and forcing the briefing into disarray.
The usually quiet premises turned into a scene of chaos as chairs were overturned and media equipment damaged, with security operatives arriving late to restore order.
Gabam Rejects Suspension: “Fake News, Political Mischief”
In a swift reaction, Gabam dismissed the announcement of his suspension as “fake news”, accusing political enemies of attempting to destabilise the party.
Gabam said during a press conference, flanked by loyal NWC members, “I remain the National Chairman of the SDP, as you can see.
“There has been no NWC meeting where such a decision was taken. The report is baseless and should be disregarded.”
Gabam accused disgruntled political forces of orchestrating an internal coup, claiming they were attempting to hijack the party or dismantle it ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Certain people believe that if they can’t have the SDP, they must cripple it. They see us as a threat, too strong to manipulate. That’s why they are fueling internal chaos,” he said.
The embattled chairman revealed that an attempt was made to convene an NWC meeting without his authorisation, with a letter sent to INEC by the party’s National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye.
Gabam said, “INEC made it clear that the request was illegal because it didn’t carry my signature. That tells you everything you need to know about the legitimacy of the claims against me.”
He warned that such political infighting, especially when aided by external forces and security operatives, posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
“The misuse of security agencies to settle political scores is a disservice not just to me or the SDP, but to Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
Responding to the financial allegations, Gabam maintained his innocence and insisted that all financial transactions under his watch were properly documented.
“All expenditures and transactions are on record. This is simply an attempt to malign me,” he said.
Naija News reports that the crisis comes amid rumours that the SDP is being considered as a coalition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, with former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai recently defecting to the party.
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