The embattled National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, has rejected claims of his suspension, insisting he remains firmly in charge of the party’s affairs.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Gabam dismissed a statement issued by a faction of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) alleging his suspension over financial misconduct.
Gabam described the move as a “desperate, illegal plot” aimed at destabilising the SDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the purported suspension was not only unconstitutional but also orchestrated by individuals who lack the legal or moral grounds to take such action.
“There was no such meeting of the NWC. No individual has the power to remove a sitting chairman without following due process. It’s clear that this is an attempt to create confusion,” Gabam said.
The SDP leader spoke shortly after receiving members of the NWC who visited him in a show of solidarity.
He also criticised the letter submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the opposing faction, describing it as fraudulent and not reflective of the true state of the party.
Gabam further alleged that this was not the first time powerful forces had tried to weaken the party, claiming he had previously survived attempts on his life.
“Some people are bent on hijacking the party or tarnishing its image. But we’ve seen this before and we know where it’s coming from. These are sponsored attacks — both from within and outside,” he said.
Reacting to the allegations of financial misconduct, Gabam said he had nothing to hide and was open to any form of investigation.
“Our accounts have been audited by INEC, reviewed by external auditors, and published in national newspapers. Every kobo spent was documented,” he maintained.
He also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to caution security agencies against being used by politicians to suppress opposition or interfere in internal party matters.
“If we want democracy to thrive, we must not allow politicians to use security agencies as tools for political witch-hunts,” he warned.
