A factional crisis in the Social Democratic Party has led to the suspension of its national chairman and takeover of its secretariat by security operatives.
A combined team of operatives from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Tuesday took over the national secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja, following an escalating leadership crisis.
The action came after a faction of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, over alleged financial misconduct. Also suspended were National Auditor Nze Nnadi Clarkson and Youth Leader Uchechukwu Chukwuma.
“In order to uphold the integrity of our party… the NWC has approved their immediate suspension,” said the faction’s spokesman, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba.
The group cited Articles 19.1, 19.3(i), and 19.5 of the 2022 party constitution and said INEC and security agencies had been notified.
However, the crisis deepened after INEC, in a letter signed by Acting Secretary Halliru Aminu, questioned the validity of the meeting’s notice, saying it lacked signatures of both the Chairman and Secretary, as required by regulations.