Social Democratic Party (SDP) National Chairman Shehu Gabam has dismissed his recent expulsion from the party as “illegal, null, and void.” Gabam asserts the disciplinary action was orchestrated by impostors seeking to destabilize Nigeria’s opposition party ahead of its national convention.
Constitutional Violations Alleged
In a Friday statement issued in Abuja, Gabam’s legal representative Abubakar Baba declared the expulsion meeting unconstitutional. Citing Article 13 (iv) of the SDP Constitution, Baba emphasized that only the National Chairman can convene key party meetings. “Any gathering convened without the chairman’s authority violates our constitution,” the statement read.
The faction criticized National Secretary Dr. Olu Agunloye for communicating the expulsion to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They called this action a breach of electoral guidelines, noting INEC’s official records still recognize Gabam as chairman.
Conflicting Party Narratives
SDP’s National Publicity Secretary Rufus Aiyenigba countered Gabam’s claims. He stated the expulsion followed months of investigations into alleged misconduct and financial misappropriation. “The National Working Committee acted within its constitutional mandate,” Aiyenigba told journalists at the party secretariat.
While state chairmen have endorsed Gabam’s removal, his supporters maintain the leadership change is politically motivated. Gabam’s camp described the meeting’s alleged presider as “neither an SDP member nor executive committee participant.”
This latest conflict follows Gabam’s controversial suspension in June and has deeply divided the party’s leadership. The crisis threatens to disrupt SDP’s preparations for upcoming elections as both factions claim legitimate authority.
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