The Social Democratic Party’s expelled National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, has reaffirmed his claim to be the party’s legitimate chairman despite reports of his expulsion. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Legal Matters, Abubakar Baba, Gabam described the expulsion as “illegal, null, and void,” calling it a desperate attempt by certain individuals to destabilise the party.
The controversy follows a National Working Committee meeting in Abuja on Thursday, during which Gabam, National Youth Leader Dr Ogbonna Uchechukwu, and several others were expelled. Gabam argues that the meeting was unconstitutional and lacked the authority to remove him. Under Article 13(iv) of the SDP Constitution, the National Chairman is empowered to preside over key party gatherings, including the National Convention, National Executive Committee, National Working Committee, and National Caucus. Gabam maintains that any meeting convened without his consent, as the duly recognised chairman, constitutes a gross violation of the party’s constitution.
He also criticised National Secretary Olu Agunloye for allegedly communicating the meeting’s purported decisions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the action as a breach of INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022. The SDP has been grappling with internal conflicts, and this latest 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 events unfold, the expelled chairman’s insistence on his legitimacy and the party’s adherence to its constitutional provisions will likely be scrutinised in the coming days.
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