The crisis rocking the Social Democratic Party (SDP) took a new dimension, as a faction of the party believed to be loyal Shehu Gabam expelled its 2023 presidential candidate, Adewale Adebayo and several others over alleged anti-party activities.
Those suspended with Adebayo are SDP national legal adviser, Aderemi Abimbola; national organising secretary, Joseph Abu; national woman leader, Sa’adatu Abdullahi; national publicity secretary, Aiyenigba Rufus and national treasurer, Maggie Batubo.
The expelled national officers led by Sadiq Abubakar Gombe faction had suspended Gabam and nine others loyal to him.
However, the Gabam-led faction said the suspension of the presidential candidate and national officers loyal to Gombe followed exhaustive deliberations during an emergency session of the National Working Committee (NWC) held on Friday.
The factional National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ambassador Judith Shua’ibu, disclosed this in a Abuja at the weekend also accused the SDP National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye of gross misconduct, contempt of court, and attempts to destabilize the party through misinformation and abuse of institutions.
She explained that the meeting was convened to address “pressing issues affecting the peace, progress, and institutional integrity of the party,” and to reaffirm the SDP’s commitment to transparency, unity, and internal democracy.
Shua’ibu stated that the conduct of Agunloye, a former national officer of the party, had become a source of concern, accusing him of acting “far outside the bounds of law, fairness, and party discipline.”
According to her, rather than work with party leadership to resolve differences, Agunloye allegedly resorted to filing petitions with the Nigerian Police Force, making spurious claims against national officials, and misleading security agencies with false information.
“Instead of cooperating with law enforcement in good faith, Dr Agunloye has been feeding the Nigerian Police with misleading information and using police personnel to block access to the national secretariat, preventing law-abiding members and executives from accessing their own offices,” she said.
Shua’ibu stated that the NWC, invoking the relevant provisions of the SDP Constitution, had no choice but to expel Adebayo and other members found guilty of gross misconduct, anti-party activities, and acts calculated to plunge the party into crisis.
She emphasised that their actions violated the ethos and collective will of the Social Democratic Party and were inconsistent with its commitment to democratic order.
Shua’ibu further clarified the status of certain individuals allegedly parading themselves as members and officials of the party and urged the members of the public to regard as Impostors.
“For further clarity, the committee also wishes to state categorically that the following individuals: Rosemary Effiong, Sadiq Abubakar, Ugochukwu Uba, Ado Hussieni are not registered members of the Social Democratic Party.
“In fact, Ado Hussieni was long expelled from the party and therefore lacks any authority to act, speak, or represent the SDP in any capacity,” She added.
Shua’ibu also dismissed the activities of certain individuals parading themselves as party officials, insisting that they were not registered members of the SDP and lacked any legal or moral authority to act or speak on its behalf.
She warned such persons to desist from impersonation and interference in the internal affairs of the party, describing their conduct as “mischievous, baseless, and intended to mislead the public.”
Shua’ibu urged members across the country to remain steadfast and not be distracted by the antics of a few individuals seeking personal gain at the expense of collective progress.
By James Kwen @TheLeadership
