The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to refrain from interfering in the party’s internal affairs, citing what it described as deliberate falsehoods being circulated by its expelled former National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam.
In a letter jointly signed by the SDP National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Gombe, and National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, the party maintained that there is no court order removing Gombe as chairman, insisting he remains the legitimate leader as affirmed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
The party stressed that no court has directed INEC to either remove Gombe, reinstate Gabam, or intervene in the party’s leadership structure in any form.
According to the SDP leadership, there are currently no court cases concerning the party’s leadership. It clarified that ongoing legal matters relate only to disputes arising from recent governorship primaries in Ekiti and Osun states.
Titled “Need to Avoid Interference in the Internal Affairs of SDP Based on Deliberate Falsehood and Distortion of Facts of Unrelated Court of Appeal Pronouncements by Shehu Musa Gabam,” the letter accused Gabam of misleading both INEC and the public.
The party referenced a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 27, 2026, in a suit filed by an aggrieved Ekiti governorship aspirant, Babatunde Tosin Fayemi, noting that the case was strictly about the Ekiti primaries and had no connection to SDP leadership issues.
It further emphasized that Gabam was neither a party to the suit nor mentioned in the proceedings or judgment, adding that his attempt to join the case was dismissed by the court.
The SDP also noted that Gabam did not challenge his suspension, removal, or expulsion within the timeframe stipulated by the party’s constitution.
Quoting the party’s constitution, the NWC stated that Gabam had five working days to appeal disciplinary actions taken against him but failed to do so before the deadline expired on March 16, 2026.
The letter reiterated that the Court of Appeal ruling did not recognize Gabam as SDP chairman, but rather affirmed that courts lack jurisdiction over internal party leadership matters.
Detailing the disciplinary process, the SDP said Gabam was first suspended on June 24, 2025, over allegations of financial misappropriation and misconduct, following findings by a duly constituted investigative panel. He was subsequently removed and later expelled on October 23, 2025, with his expulsion ratified by the NEC on March 9, 2026.
The party noted that INEC monitored the NEC meeting that ratified Gabam’s expulsion and received a report from its six-man team present at the session.
Describing the process as constitutional and unchallenged in any court, the SDP insisted that Gabam’s removal complied fully with its 2022 constitution as amended.
The NWC therefore called on INEC to disregard what it termed misinformation from Gabam and maintain its established working relationship with the party.
“We urge the Commission to ignore these false claims and continue to uphold its neutrality, as well as the cordial relationship that has existed between INEC and the SDP,” the letter stated.
The party added that it had always resolved its internal disputes through due process without dragging INEC into its internal challenges, emphasizing the need for collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
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