Abuja: The Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Tuesday engaged in a free-for-all as hoodlums suspected to be thugs later in the evening stormed the party’s national headquarters, located at 16 Nairobi Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
The SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced on Tuesday the suspension of its National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, signalling the commencement of a crisis in the party, as contained in a statement issued by Rufus Aiyenigba, SDP’s National Publicity Secretary.
The thugs, according to an eyewitness, dressed in black attire, unleashed violence on the party’s staff members, including journalists invited to the NWC meeting.
They beat some people mercilessly, denying many access to the gate leading to the secretariat.
Minutes later, another group of hefty-looking thugs came and opened the secretariat’s gate, creating a pandemonium.
The hoodlums inflicted injuries on some people, including Arise TV’s reporters and Punch Newspaper’s correspondent.
It took the intervention of some security operatives from the Wuse Police Division, the FCT command, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel to restore normalcy at the premises.
Trouble started when security personnel at the gate locked out some members loyal to the national chairman from entering the meeting venue.
While struggling to enter the venue, the group pulled down the secretariat’s iron gate, escalating the crisis.
Speaking on the suspension, Aiyenigba said that Gabam, the National Auditor, Nze Nnadi Clarkson, and the National Youth Leader, Uchechukwu Chukwuma, were suspended over allegations of gross financial misconduct, including funds generated from the 2023 general elections.
Aiyenigba said that the suspension, which took effect immediately, was approved by the NWC to exercise its exclusive powers as guaranteed in Article 19.1, 19.3(i), and 19.5 of the party’s Constitution (2022 as Amended).
He claimed that the decision followed a resolution of a meeting of the NWC, during which it presented overwhelming evidence linking the suspended officials to a series of alleged unauthorised financial transactions.
He further said that the suspension was to demonstrate to the public that the SDP is a disciplined party and a credible alternative political platform for national redemption.
He added that the party had zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of office.
“The decision to suspend the National Chairman and other implicated NWC members is to allow for a thorough investigation. Our integrity as a political party must always be upheld,” Aiyenigba said.
He stated the party had constituted an interim investigative panel to audit all financial records and recommend further disciplinary or legal actions.
“In the interim, the Deputy National Chairman, Dr Sadiq Abubakar, has been directed to assume the party’s leadership, pending the investigation’s outcome.
“The suspension has been communicated to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and all relevant anti-graft agencies and security agencies,” he said.
Gabam, responding to his suspension, described it as fake and said that he remains the SDP national chairman.
He described the incident as one of the attempts by people to destabilise the SDP.