SDP suspends National Chairman, two others over multi-million naira fraud

…thugs breaks into party secretariat

The crisis rocking the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) escalated on Tuesday as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) slammed an indefinite suspension on its National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gbam, alongside two key officials, the National Auditor, Nze Nnadi Clarkson and the National Youth Leader, Uchechukwu Chukwuma.

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The party said the trio were suspended over “grave allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, misappropriation, and diversion of party funds.” The suspension takes immediate effect.

This decision was announced in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, following a high-stakes meeting of the NWC held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

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As early as 10 a.m. on Tuesday, tension gripped the SDP secretariat. Staff and NWC members arriving for the meeting were subjected to intense security checks, while journalists invited to cover the event were denied access.

The meeting, which commenced around 10:30 a.m., was nearly disrupted at about 11:45 a.m. when a group of youths forced their way into the premises. The chaos ensued after security operatives allegedly denied entry to a vehicle conveying a senior party chieftain. On the orders of one of the vehicle’s occupants, the youths who had been loitering outside pulled down the gate to allow the car inside.

As the altercation unfolded, plainclothes security personnel harassed reporters observing the scene from a distance. Two journalists had their phones confiscated by security agents, though they were later returned following the intervention of a senior police officer overseeing the party secretariat.

Order was eventually restored by a joint team of police officers, Department of State Services (DSS) operatives, and civil defence personnel.

Shortly after the meeting, the party released an official statement.

“In exercise of its exclusive powers as guaranteed in Article 19.1; 19.3(i) and 19.5 of the Party Constitution (2022 as Amended), the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has approved the immediate suspension of the National Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gbam, along with two members of the National Working Committee (NWC), namely: Nze Nnadi Clarkson, National Auditor, and Uchechukwu Chukwuma, National Youth Leader, over grave allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, misappropriation, and diversion of party funds.

“The decision to suspend the party chieftains followed a resolution of a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), where overwhelming evidences were presented linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorized financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and movement of funds from the party’s accounts without necessary approvals of the NWC.

“The action of the NWC to suspend the National Chairman and two members of the NWC involved in the gross financial misconduct is to demonstrate to the general public that the Party, generally esteemed by Nigerians as a disciplined party and a credible alternative political platform for national redemption, has zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of office.

“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 constituted to audit all financial records and recommend further disciplinary or legal actions.

“In the interim, the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar, has been directed to assume leadership of the party pending the outcome of the investigations.

“The misappropriated funds amount to hundreds of millions of naira, including donations and resources realised from the sales of nomination forms in the 2023 general elections and other funds from the party accounts”, the statement read.

The party also disclosed that the suspension had been formally communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as relevant anti-graft and security agencies.

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