The internal crisis rocking the Social Democratic Party took a dramatic turn on Friday as the party’s National Executive Committee dissolved the National Working Committee led by the suspended National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, over the lingering crisis rocking the party.
The decision was announced at an emergency NEC meeting held in Abuja and presided over by the party’s National Financial Secretary, Ibrahim Biu.
“The NWC, by this resolution, stands dissolved. We hereby nominate the following persons to take charge of the affairs of our great party, and to move the party forward,” he declared.
The new interim leaders announced include “Adamu Modibo (National Chairman), Abubakar Dogara (Deputy Chairman), Ekpeyong Ambo (National Secretary), Joseph Abu (National Organising Secretary), and Chief Solsuema Osaro (National Legal Adviser).
Others are Judith Shuaibu (National Publicity Secretary), Ibrahim Biu (Financial Secretary), and Eluwa Ifeanyi (National Youth Speaker).”
Biu told journalists that it was unfortunate the NEC took such a drastic measure following failed attempts to resolve the internal crisis.
“In the last couple of months, our party, unfortunately, was engulfed in a leadership crisis. You are fully aware, somehow, that the party has been factionalised.
“A group loyal to the National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, suspended the National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, on allegations of misappropriation and fraud.
“On the other hand, the national chairman debunked those allegations and equally considered the so-called appointments made by the group of the secretary as illegal. “That resulted in a kind of scuffle to the extent that the two groups clashed at the National Secretary of SDP. That created a crisis that security operatives had to intervene”, Biu stated.
Continuing, he noted that despite efforts by the NEC to reconcile the factions, the crisis has severely damaged the party’s image and progress.
This has seriously affected our supporters, and we felt all the efforts we put in the last three years, since our last convention in 2022, somehow, because of this crisis, seem to be lost. And we cannot afford it. We have put in so much effort to build this party to this level. It’s for this reason that we decided to say, let’s come together.
“If the leadership of the party are not ready to provide a remedy to this situation, then you, NEC members, especially at the state should come together and see what we can do so that we can restore the confidence and trust of our teaming supporters,” he said.
