Ahead of Saturday’s elective National Convention in Bauchi State, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has reaffirmed that its current leadership is lawful and constitutionally elected, following due process under the party’s constitution.
Addressing party members and the press on Thursday in Abuja, SDP National Chairman Prof. Sadiq Gombe said the National Working Committee (NWC) acted within Article 123 of the SDP Constitution when it suspended and later expelled some members, including Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam and National Youth Leader Mr. Ogbonna Chukwuma Uchechukwu for misconduct and financial infractions.
According to Prof. Gombe, a five-member disciplinary committee conducted a two-week investigation at the party secretariat, granting all accused members a fair hearing.
“While the National Treasurer and National Auditor appeared before the committee, Gabam and others refused to attend. The committee’s report was reviewed by the NWC, which set up a white paper committee and recommended expulsion.
“This was ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on March 9, 2026, with INEC officials present and the proceedings duly certified,” Gombe said.
He noted that Gabam never appealed the decision within the party’s internal mechanism within the stipulated five working days under Article 19(c) of the constitution, nor has he challenged it in court.
He said that INEC was formally notified of the March 9 NEC meeting in line with the Electoral Act’s 21-working-day notice requirement, and that INEC’s monitoring team, led by Deputy Director Alhaji Masood Hassan, was present at the meeting held in Abuja.
The SDP Chairman expressed surprise and concern that, on the eve of the convention, INEC issued a letter inviting the SDP to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) session despite no known internal dispute.
He stressed that the SDP is an institution responsible for presenting candidates for the presidency, 36 governorships, 109 Senate seats, 360 House of Representatives seats, and 933 State Assembly seats, not an individual’s property.
Prof. Gombe cited Supreme Court precedent that the internal affairs of political parties are beyond judicial interference, and recalled that on December 19, 2025, the Supreme Court fined INEC N2m for interfering in the SDP’s internal matters.
On the incident at the party secretariat earlier today, Prof. Gombe alleged that security officers sealed off the SDP headquarters under the pretext of preventing a breakdown of law and order, only to later allow Gabam and his entourage to enter and occupy the offices.
He described the action as intimidation and an attempt to scuttle the party’s convention.
Despite disruptions and denied venues in Abuja and Nasarawa, the SDP has secured a venue in Bauchi with the approval of the state government.
He said that the party has also paid for live media coverage, for the convention.
“We are not deterred,” Prof. Gombe said. “We are going ahead with our convention in Bauchi. We call on all party members across Nigeria to remain law-abiding and to attend. Nobody will intimidate us in our own country. There is no court order returning Gabam as chairman.”
He urged the media to uphold their role in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy and warned that continued interference in party affairs threatens the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Also speaking during the briefing, SDP National Secretary Dr. Olu Agunloye said the sudden invitation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) meeting is unwarranted, stating that there is no internal dispute within the party.
He said ADR is ordinarily initiated by the parties involved in a dispute, and the SDP does not recognize any existing conflict.
“The only outstanding matter is INEC’s continued imposition of a member the party was lawfully expelled through due process — an expulsion that was documented and certified in INEC’s own report of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting,” Agunloye said.
He also emphasised that all 15 members of the National Working Committee elected at the 2022 convention remain in office, with their tenure ending this Saturday.
He said that the only changes have been the lawful expulsion of two members for misconduct, both of whom have been arraigned before a magistrate court.
He said, “The National Auditor voluntarily resigned, while another official stepped down after the suspension of Shehu Musa Gabam. The suspension letter was signed by 11 of 15 NWC members, while the expulsion letter was signed by 12.”
Dr. Agunloye also condemned the disruption at the party’s Abuja secretariat earlier today, where police officers ordered all staff and officials to vacate the building, citing security concerns.
He alleged that the action appeared to be a ploy to allow others to take over the office, similar to incidents in other parties.
He said that he immediately contacted the Inspector General of Police, who directed him to the FCT Police Command, but more officers arrived and enforced the evacuation.
He said that despite the disruption, the SDP leadership will proceed with its 2026 National Convention in Bauchi State as planned.
He said, “We are not going to be distracted. After this briefing, we are heading to Bauchi for our convention.”
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