- Safiu Kehinde
The Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) national headquarters in Abuja has on Tuesday been invaded by group of armed thugs following the suspension of the party’s national chairman, Shehu Gabam.
Also suspended alongside Gabam, were the party’s National Auditor, Nnadi Clarkson, and National Youth Leader, Chukwuma Uchechukwu.
According to report, the trio were accused of gross financial misconduct, including embezzlement, misappropriation, and unauthorised diversion of party funds running into hundreds of millions of naira.
Their suspension had however triggered the violent attack as the armed thugs stormed the headquarters, attacking party members and journalists, who had gathered at the party office for a press briefing.
As captured in a video shared on X, the thugs cladded in black outfit
Confirming the suspension of the Gabam and the two other national leaders in a statement made available to newsmen, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, disclosed that the suspension was borne out of Gabam’s alleged submission of an unauthorised financial statement to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which was further circulated by the media.
“The decision followed resolutions made by members of the NWC, where overwhelming evidence was presented linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorised financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and movement of funds from the party’s accounts without the committee’s approval,” the statement read.
While noting that INEC has been informed about the suspension, Aiyenigba maintained that the party has zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of office.
The party’s National Working Committee had since appointed Dr. Sadiq Abubakar, Deputy National Chairman (North), as Acting National Chairman, pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
Aiyenigba also disclosed that an interim investigative panel has been constituted to audit all financial records and recommend possible legal action against those found culpable.
According to report, the committee is expected to scrutinise all transactions, especially those related to the proceeds from nomination forms sold ahead of the 2023 general elections, funds believed to have been misappropriated.