SDP CRISIS DEEPENS AS GABAM FACTION EXPELS ADEWOLE ADEBAYO, ADOPTS NEW PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
Read Time:2 Minute, 27 Second
The leadership crisis in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) escalated on Wednesday after the faction loyal to the reinstated National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, announced the expulsion of 13 key party members, including the party’s sole presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo.
The development occurred during a factional National Convention and Presidential Primary held in Abuja, where delegates aligned with Gabam also adopted Lagos businessman, Abimbola Atanda, as the party’s new presidential candidate through a voice vote.
Others expelled alongside Adebayo include the factional National Chairman, Sadiq Gombe; National Secretary, Olu Agunloye; National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba; and several other senior party figures.
Those also affected are Joseph Abu, Maggie Batubo, Sa’adatu Abdullahi, Abimbola Aderemi, Oguchukwu Uba, Huseesini Bello, Alabi Lekan, Rosemary Effiong, and Abubakar Modibo.
The convention also dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC) and constituted a new leadership structure, also adopted through a voice vote.
The newly announced NWC has Shehu Gabam as National Chairman, Adebola Abbas as National Secretary, Ibrahim Biu as Deputy National Secretary, and Dr Uchechukwu Chukwuma as National Organising Secretary.
Other officers include Muka’ila Mavo (National Legal Adviser), Zakari Nadabu (National Publicity Secretary), Hauwa Ahmed (National Woman Leader), Steven Otu (National Youth Leader), and Abubakar Isiaka (National Financial Secretary).
Announcing the decisions, party leaders said the actions were taken based on alleged breaches of the party’s constitution and internal discipline.
“These disciplinary measures were taken following findings that the affected individuals acted in ways inconsistent with the ideals, principles, and constitutional provisions of the party,” the leadership stated.
Speaking after the exercise, Gabam said the party had overcome internal turbulence and was now stronger.
“We have come through a lot of challenges as a party… We have bounced back and are fully operational,” he said, adding that internal crises were part of political growth.
He described the factional convention as a necessary step to restore order within the party and insisted that institutions including INEC were aware of the developments.
However, the opposing faction led by Sadiq Gombe rejected the convention and described the decisions as illegal and unconstitutional.
In a telephone interview, factional spokesperson Rufus Aiyenigba said the gathering had no legal standing and dismissed it as a “nullity.”
He argued that Gabam no longer had authority within the party structure and accused his camp of disregarding established processes.
According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously only recognised Gabam due to a court order, and not as a validation of the factional claims.
“The SDP is not a private estate of Shehu Gabam,” Aiyenigba said, insisting that the authentic party leadership remained with the Gombe-led faction.
The crisis marks another escalation in the long-running struggle for control of the SDP ahead of the 2027 general elections, with both factions laying claim to legitimacy.
The party has remained divided for months, with earlier expulsions, counter-expulsions, and conflicting interpretations of INEC recognition deepening the internal rift.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0