Abuja: The Forum of Social Democratic Party (SDP) State Chairmen has expressed support for the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Shehu Gabam and two other national officers.
The forum, at a news conference addressed on Friday in Abuja by its Chairman, Femi Ferrari, said that the suspension followed due process.
The SDP National Working Committee (NWC) had on Tuesday announced the suspension of Gabam as national chairman, Nze Clarkson as National Auditor, and Uchechukwu Chukwuma as National Youth Leader.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, stated in a statement in Abuja that Gabam and others were suspended over allegations of gross financial misconduct, including funds generated from the 2023 general elections.
Aiyenigba stated that the suspension was approved by the NWC in the exercise of its exclusive powers, as guaranteed in Articles 19.1, 19.3(i), and 19.5 of the party’s constitution (2022, as amended).
Ferrari, after a meeting attended by 22 members of the forum, said that the suspension was part of the process to sanitise the party of corruption.
Ferrari said that the forum had expressed concerns about the suspended national chairman’s unilateral and autocratic leadership style, particularly in his interactions with the state chairpersons and members of the NWC.
He alleged that since Gabam became the party’s national chairman, he had refused to call for a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting or remit money meant for the state chapters.
“It is important to note that the state chapters have initiated all actions taken. Our situation can be summarised by the phrase, “monkey dey work, baboon dey chop.
“This forum has repeatedly requested that the national chairman remit the state’s allocated percentage, as outlined in the constitution, but he has consistently ignored these requests.
“No state chapter has received any funds from the money raised, and whenever we inquire about our dues, we encounter threats of removal or suspension,” he said.
Ferrari called for an immediate investigation into all allegations against Gabam in a transparent, honest, and fair manner.
“To this end, the forum has offered to nominate a member of the Disciplinary Investigation Panel who shall be a state chairman,” he said.
Ferrari urged the party leadership to allow the disciplinary committee or investigation panel to conduct a sincere, open, fair, and legally just investigation without any political or other motivations or interference.
“We urge the investigation body to follow the rule of law and due process along the lines of natural justice and for the findings to be made public without delay,” he said.
He urged party members to remain calm and not be swayed by media manipulations regarding the suspended chairman, stating that the entire process had been conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution.
While maintaining that there was no crisis within SDP, he said that the party was committed to building a strong internal democracy and presenting Nigeria with a credible alternative.
“We use this medium to assure all the members of SDP nationwide and all Nigerians that the leadership cleansing in the SDP is not about power play or 2027 or coalition or APC, PDP or other conspiracy theories.
“It is about doing the right thing in the party,” Ferrari said.
He stated that leaders of political parties must understand that when money is donated or contributed to the party, it is for the development of the party, not for an individual to use as personal resources.
Ferrari said that for an opposition political party like SDP, which Nigerians were looking up to, it had no other choice than to be and be seen to be above board, more than the proverbial Caesar’s wife.
NAN reports that Gabam, however, had described his suspension as “fake news” and a product of political mischief.
He urged members of the public to disregard the purported suspension, saying, “I remain the national chairman of the SDP.”
Regarding the alleged financial misappropriation against him, Gabam described it as false, stating that he had nothing to hide.