, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, has firmly stated that he remains){kind=link}
The embattled National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Shehu Gabam, has firmly stated that he remains in charge of the party’s leadership despite reports claiming he had been suspended. He described the alleged suspension as baseless and fake, urging the public to disregard it entirely.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, Gabam appeared alongside members of the National Working Committee (NWC), affirming his position as the legitimate chairman. “I remain the National Chairman of the SDP, as you can see,” he declared.
Gabam explained that no formal meeting of the party’s National Working Committee was convened to deliberate or approve such a drastic decision. He questioned the authenticity of the suspension notice and its source, stressing that due process within the party’s structure had not been followed.
Providing further clarity, the SDP chairman revealed that a private legal firm had written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), requesting approval to convene an NWC meeting. However, INEC rejected the request, labeling it illegal due to the absence of his signature.
Gabam said, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) tagged the request by the party’s National Secretary to hold a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting as illegal since it didn’t have my signature.”
He expressed concern that the ongoing crisis within the SDP was being orchestrated by elements of a political coalition desperate to seize control of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition is determined to destabilize the party because it cannot manipulate or control it.
“This crisis is not new—it has happened before and is now resurfacing. Those behind it are part of a coalition that wants to either forcefully take over the SDP or create chaos within it. Many political forces see the SDP as too strong and uncompromising to be easily manipulated,” Gabam said.
He also issued a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene by calling the nation’s security agencies to order. Gabam cautioned that certain politicians were exploiting security operatives to undermine democratic processes and suppress dissenting voices.
“This is very dangerous for our democracy,” he warned. “If we allow this to continue, democracy in Nigeria will collapse. The use of state security apparatus to intimidate opposition figures is unacceptable. I hope the President and Commander-in-Chief will put a stop to this growing anarchy.”
Responding to accusations of financial impropriety, Gabam said he was fully prepared to account for every financial transaction during his tenure. He insisted that any claims of misappropriation should be directed to those who initiated the financial memos and whose names appear in the party’s financial records.
“I am ready to submit the full printout of our account statements to security agencies,” he assured. “It will clearly show every member of the NWC whose funds were received or disbursed. Nobody is exempted. Even Dr. Olu Agunloye, a former chairman of the party, should also be ready to explain the finances during his own tenure.”
Gabam further noted that the internal crisis had been long anticipated by the party’s leadership. “We have been expecting this for some time. Our strategy was to allow those behind it to fully expose themselves before we made our response. Fortunately, that has happened today.”
Recall that earlier, Rufus Ayegbeni, the SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, issued a statement announcing the suspension of Gabam and several other members from the party. Gabam’s press conference appears to be a direct rebuttal of that announcement, signaling a deepening rift within the SDP’s national leadership.