SDP Crisis Escalates As Gabam, Gombe Chairmanship Tussle Resurfaces

By James Kwen and Helen Onyemowo Foster, Abuja

The Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by Professor Sadiq Abubakar Gombe, has defended the expulsion of Alhaji Shehu Gabam during an alternative dispute resolution meeting with INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, and commissioners at the commission’s Abuja headquarters on Monday.

Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Gombe said 11 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) attended alongside key stakeholders.

However, the Gabam-led national leadership yesterday dismissed reports that the party had submitted the name of its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the information as false and misleading.

The Special Adviser on Media to the SDP National Chairman, Lawal Ibrahim, in a statement, said the party had yet to conduct any process for the emergence of its presidential candidate and therefore could not have forwarded any name to INEC.

Gombe, after the meeting with INEC, maintained that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) validly ratified the appointments of the current NWC members during a meeting held on March 9, 2026.

He stressed that the NEC also approved the suspension and expulsion of Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, the INEC-recognised chairman, at the same meeting held at Newtown Park Hotel and Resort.

Gombe said the NEC meeting was duly communicated to INEC and monitored by officials of the commission, while certified true copies of the proceedings were formally submitted to the electoral body.

“We are here because of the respect we have for INEC and to honour its invitation for alternative dispute resolution,” he said.

He emphasised that the party made it clear that the SDP, as an institution, has the constitutional authority to manage its internal affairs.

He said disciplinary measures against Gabam followed allegations of corruption, mismanagement, breach of the party constitution, and violations of the Electoral Act.

He noted that under Article 19(C) of the SDP constitution, any disciplined member has five working days to challenge such action through internal mechanisms.

He added that Gabam neither appealed internally nor approached any competent court within the stipulated period to challenge his suspension and eventual expulsion.

“From the day the NEC ratified his expulsion, he ceased to be a member of the party,” he added.

On the ongoing legal dispute, he clarified that the matter before the Supreme Court originated from a suit filed by an SDP governorship aspirant in Ekiti State and does not relate to the party’s national leadership structure.

He insisted that no court order can override resolutions reached by the NEC and ratified at the party’s convention on matters strictly relating to internal administration.

“The NEC is the administrative organ responsible for the day-to-day running of the party, and its decisions on party affairs remain binding,” he added.

Gombe faulted suggestions that leadership recognition could be determined through the INEC portal, saying political parties retain exclusive constitutional powers over internal administration.

He described discussions with INEC officials as “fruitful and constructive,” while expressing surprise over claims that some correspondences on suspensions and expulsions were not communicated.

“We have duly acknowledged copies of all correspondences submitted to INEC, and these documents were again presented during the meeting,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Gabam-led party, through its Special Adviser on Media, Lawal Ibrahim, said the party had yet to conduct any process for the emergence of its presidential candidate and therefore could not have forwarded any name to INEC.

The SDP described reports of a purported national convention held in Bauchi State, where a candidate was allegedly produced, as an “illegal gathering” organised by desperate politicians.

“This is a false and calculated attempt to mislead our party members nationwide and the general public,” the statement said.

It further affirmed that, based on INEC records and a judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, Shehu Musa Gabam remains the authentic National Chairman of the party.

It added that Gabam is already putting in place the necessary machinery for congresses and a national convention that would eventually produce the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 polls under the supervision of INEC.

The SDP said it remains committed to democratic principles and credible electoral processes ahead of the next general elections.

The party also called on security agencies to investigate and caution those allegedly behind the circulation of the false report, accusing them of engaging in activities capable of causing public disorder and political tension.