Shehu Gabam speaks on suspension as SDP chair, says coalition behind crisis

Shehu Gabam, national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has dismissed reports of his suspension as “fake news”.

On Tuesday, the SDP announced the suspension of Gabam, alongside Nnadi Clarkson, national auditor, and Uchechukwu Chukwuma, national youth leader.

A statement by Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP’s national publicity secretary, said the suspensions were based on grave allegations of embezzlement, misappropriation, and diversion of party funds.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at the SDP’s national secretariat in Abuja, Gabam said he remains the national chairman of the party, NAN reports.

Gabam, who was surrounded by members of the national working committee (NWC), urged the public to ignore what he termed a “fabricated report”.

He said no formal NWC meeting was held where such a decision was reached, adding that the origin of the suspension claim was questionable.

The suspended SDP chair recalled that a legal firm had previously written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), conveying notice of an NWC meeting — a letter signed by Olu Agunloye, the party’s national secretary.

He said INEC rejected the letter because it was not co-signed by him as required.

“They used a legal firm to communicate with INEC, which is a complete violation of the procedure for political parties,” he said.

“If you look at INEC’s correspondence, it clearly states that any decision must be jointly signed by the national chairman and the national secretary.

“My signature is an authoritative signature. By our constitution, the national chairman is the national leader and chief executive of the party.

“INEC described the request to hold the NWC meeting as illegal because it lacked my signature.”

‘FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT’

On the allegations of financial misconduct, Gabam denied any wrongdoing, saying he had nothing to hide.

He said those accusing him were the same individuals who had raised internal memos and that all their names appeared in the party’s bank records.

“I’m sure that once we submit the full printout of our bank statements to security agencies, everything will be clear,” he said.

“They will see everyone who received money — all the NWC members. Nobody is exempt.

“He was once the chairman of the party. He should be ready to account for his own tenure as well. I’m ready to give an account of my tenure any minute, any time.”

Gabam alleged that some party officials, in collaboration with a new political coalition, were behind the turmoil in the party due to their failed attempt to take control of the SDP.

“I think we had this crisis before. It is now rearing its head again,” he said.

“Some of us know where it’s coming from. Some people in this coalition believe they must hijack the SDP at all costs or cause confusion around it.

“Many forces see the SDP as a strong party they cannot manipulate.

“We’ve been waiting for them to reveal their full plan. Now they have done so, and Nigerians will know who the anti-democratic actors are — those trying to destabilise political institutions.

“But I want to assure you that we are on course.”

He also called on President Bola Tinubu to rein in security agencies and prevent them from being used by politicians to undermine democracy.

“They are not doing a disservice to me. They are not doing a disservice to this party. It’s a disservice to the country,” he added.

In his earlier statement, Aiyenigba had said Gabam’s suspension was to allow for a thorough investigation into the allegations against him and others.

He said Sadiq Umar Abubakar, the deputy national chairman, had been directed to assume interim leadership of the party.