…Chairman Gabam, Auditor, and Youth Leader Suspended
A crisis has engulfed the Social Democratic Party (SDP) just months after the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, joined its ranks. El-Rufai left the All Progressives Congress (APC) after failing to secure a ministerial position in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet. He has since resorted to using unprintable terms to describe the government and its cabinet members.
Notably, Senator Aliyu Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West, recently indicated that he could not share a platform with El-Rufai, asserting that the former Kaduna Governor lacks principled political values.
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 Social Democratic Party approved the immediate suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, along with two NWC members: Nnadi Clarkson, the National Auditor, and Chukwuma Uchechukwu, the National Youth Leader. This decision was made in light of allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, misappropriation, and the diversion of party funds.
The suspension was detailed in a statement released to the Vanguard by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba.
The statement read, “The decision was made following resolutions by members of the National Working Committee (NWC), where overwhelming evidence was presented linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorised financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and the movement of funds from the party’s accounts without the NWC’s approval.
“This development first emerged when it was discovered 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 learning of this, the NWC resolved to report the fraudulent activities to law enforcement agencies.
“The suspension of the National Chairman and two implicated NWC members serves to demonstrate to the public that the Party, which is highly esteemed by Nigerians as a disciplined and credible alternative political platform for national redemption, has zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of office.”
Aiyenigba stated, “The decision to suspend the National Chairman and other implicated NWC members is to allow for a thorough investigation. Our integrity as a political party must be upheld at all times.”
“An interim investigative panel has been established to audit all financial records and recommend further disciplinary or legal actions.
“In the meantime, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar, has assumed leadership of the party as Acting National Chairman, in accordance with the provisions of the party’s Constitution.”
Aiyenigba alleged that “the misappropriated funds amount to hundreds of millions of naira, including donations and resources obtained 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.”
Prior to the suspension, supporters of the suspended National Chairman Gabam and those of the 2023 Presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, clashed, resulting in the removal of the gate at their national secretariat located in Wuse 2.
