Chairman Gabam, Auditor, and Youth Leader Suspended
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has been shaken by a crisis just a few months after former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, joined the party. El-Rufai left the All Progressives Congress (APC) after failing to secure a ministerial role in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet, subsequently labelling the government and its members with various unprintable epithets.
Recently, Senator Aliyu Wadada, representing Nasarawa West, hinted that he could not align with El-Rufai, asserting that the former Kaduna Governor is not a principled politician.
However, shortly after El-Rufai joined the SDP and became part of a coalition aiming to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the SDP approved the immediate suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, alongside two NWC members: Nnadi Clarkson, the National Auditor, and Chukwuma Uchechukwu, the National Youth Leader. This action was taken following allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, misappropriation, and the diversion of party funds.
The suspension was announced in a statement made available to the Vanguard by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba.
The statement read, “The decision follows resolutions made by members of the National Working Committee (NWC), where substantial evidence linked the suspended officials to a series of unauthorised financial dealings, schemes for personal enrichment, and the movement of funds from the party’s accounts without the necessary approvals from the NWC.”
“This issue first came to light when it was revealed that the National Chairman had submitted an unauthorised Financial Statement to INEC, as required from all political parties.
“A summary of the fraudulent accounts was also published in the newspapers. Upon realising this, the NWC resolved to report the fraudulent activities to law enforcement agencies.
“The suspension of the National Chairman and the two implicated NWC members is intended to show the public that the Party, which is generally regarded by Nigerians as a disciplined and credible alternative political platform for national redemption, has zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of office.”
According to Aiyenigba, “The decision to suspend the National Chairman and other implicated NWC members is necessary to facilitate a thorough investigation. We must uphold our integrity as a political party at all times.”
“An interim investigative panel has been established to audit all financial records and recommend further disciplinary or legal actions.
“In the interim, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar, has taken on the role of Acting National Chairman in line with the provisions of the party’s Constitution.”
Aiyenigba alleged that “the misappropriated funds total hundreds of millions of naira, including donations and resources garnered from the sale of nomination forms during the 2023 general elections and other funds from the party’s accounts.
“The suspension of these officers has been communicated to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and all relevant agencies.”
He confirmed that “the suspension of Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, Nze Nnadi Clarkson, and Uchechukwu Ogbonna Chukwuma takes immediate effect.”
Before the suspension, supporters of the suspended National Chairman Gabam and those of their 2023 Presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, clashed, resulting in the removal of the gate at their national secretariat located in Wuse 2.
