Violence broke out at the national headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja on Tuesday following the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, and other top officials over alleged financial misconduct.
Videos circulating online show a group of armed thugs dressed in black attire storming the premises, attacking journalists and party staff members. Several media workers were physically assaulted during the chaos, with phones and cameras seized before security operatives arrived to restore order.
The incident occurred shortly after the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of Gabam, National Auditor Nnadi Clarkson, and National Youth Leader Chukwuma Uchechukwu. The officials were accused of embezzlement, misappropriation, and unauthorised diversion of party funds running into hundreds of millions of naira.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, the NWC cited “overwhelming evidence” of financial mismanagement, including the submission of an unauthorised financial report to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the subsequent publication of the accounts summary in the media.
“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 stated.
Sources within the party said the financial irregularities stemmed largely from proceeds of nomination forms sold ahead of the 2023 general election.
In response to the unfolding crisis, the party appointed Dr. Sadiq Abubakar, Deputy National Chairman (North), as Acting National Chairman. An interim investigative panel has also been set up to conduct a comprehensive audit of the party’s finances and recommend legal action where necessary.
“The party has zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of office. Our goal is to restore public confidence in the SDP as a credible alternative for national leadership,” Aiyenigba said.
The suspensions have been formally communicated to INEC and other relevant authorities, signalling what could be a major shake-up within the party’s ranks.
LEADERSHIP reports that this is not the first time the SDP has faced internal turbulence.
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