The Social Democratic Party’s expelled National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, has affirmed his position as the legitimate chairman of the party, despite his reported expulsion. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Legal matters, Abubakar Baba, Gabam described the expulsion as “illegal, null, and void,” citing a desperate attempt by certain individuals to destabilize the party.

The development follows a meeting of the National Working Committee in Abuja on Thursday, where Gabam, along with the National Youth Leader, Dr. Ogbonna Uchechukwu, and several others, were expelled. Gabam has countered that the meeting was unconstitutional and lacked the requisite authority. According to Article 13 (iv) of the SDP Constitution, the National Chairman is empowered to preside over key party meetings, including the National Convention, National Executive Committee, National Working Committee, and National Caucus.

Gabam emphasized that any meeting convened without his consent as the duly recognized chairman constitutes a gross violation of the party’s constitution. He further criticized the National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, for allegedly communicating the purported decisions of the meeting to the Independent National Electoral Commission, describing this action as a breach of INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022.

The SDP has been grappling with internal conflicts, and this recent development may further exacerbate the situation. The party’s constitution and INEC’s guidelines are expected to play a crucial role in resolving the crisis. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the party will navigate this challenging period and what implications this may have for its future. The expelled chairman’s insistence on his legitimacy and the party’s adherence to its constitutional provisions will likely be subject to scrutiny in the coming days.