The suspended National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, has alleged a coordinated attempt by members of an opposition coalition to hijack the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gabam made the accusation during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, while insisting that he remains the legitimate national chairman of the party despite his suspension by the National Working Committee (NWC).
“Some members of the opposition coalition are bent on hijacking the structure of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and they want me out of my position as the national chairman,” he said. He further claimed that the coalition had issued a condition that the SDP’s National Working Committee be handed over to them before the next elections.
Gabam alleged that the ongoing crisis within the party was part of a wider effort to destabilise the SDP. He said he had survived previous attempts on his life and accused unnamed political actors of sponsoring internal sabotage to weaken the party’s chances in 2027.
“This coalition and some people in it believe that at all costs, they either get the SDP or create confusion around it,” he said, adding that several groups see the party as “too strong to manoeuvre.”
On accusations of financial misconduct, Gabam dismissed the claims and said he welcomed any investigation. He maintained that the party’s financial records had been properly audited and published in line with legal requirements.
“INEC has audited our accounts, external auditors have audited them, and we even published in two national dailies. Everything we spent went through a process and was documented,” he stated.
However, earlier on Tuesday, the SDP’s NWC announced the suspension of Gabam alongside two other party officials: the National Auditor, Nze Nnadi Clarkson, and the National Youth Leader, Uchechukwu Chukwuma.
According to a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the suspensions were the result of a resolution passed during an NWC meeting where evidence was presented linking the officials to unauthorised financial transactions and misappropriation of party funds.
The statement read: “In exercise of its exclusive powers as guaranteed in Article 19.1, 19.3(i), and 19.5 of the party’s constitution (2022 as Amended), the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has approved the immediate suspension of the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, along with two members of the National Working Committee (NWC), namely Nze Nnadi Clarkson and Uchechukwu Chukwuma, over grave allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, misappropriation, and diversion of party funds.”
The NWC said the action was intended to affirm the party’s zero tolerance for corruption and protect its image as a credible alternative political platform.
To facilitate investigations, an interim investigative panel has been set up to audit the party’s financial records and recommend further disciplinary or legal action.
In the meantime, the deputy national chairman, Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar, has been directed to take over the leadership of the party pending the outcome of the investigation.
