The crisis rocking the Social Democratic Party (SDP) deepened over the weekend as a faction loyal to the party’s National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, announced the expulsion of its 2023 presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, and several other national officers over alleged anti-party activities.
Those expelled alongside Adebayo include the National Legal Adviser, Aderemi Abimbola; the National Organising Secretary, Joseph Abu; the National Woman Leader, Sa’adatu Abdullahi; the National Publicity Secretary, Aiyenigba Rufus; and the National Treasurer, Maggie Batubo.
The decision, according to the faction, followed “exhaustive deliberations” during an emergency session of the National Working Committee (NWC) held on Friday.
Factional National Publicity Secretary, Ambassador Judith Shua’ibu, who briefed reporters in Abuja, said the expulsions were carried out in line with the SDP Constitution.
“The NWC, invoking the relevant provisions of the Constitution, had no choice but to expel Prince Adewale Adebayo and other members found guilty of gross misconduct, anti-party activities, and acts calculated to plunge the party into crisis,” she said.
She added that their actions violated the ethos and collective will of the party and were inconsistent with its commitment to democratic order.
Shua’ibu also accused the SDP National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, of gross misconduct, contempt of court, and deliberate attempts to destabilise the party.
According to her, rather than work with party leadership to resolve disputes, Agunloye allegedly filed petitions with the police and misled security agencies.
“Instead of cooperating with law enforcement in good faith, Dr. Agunloye has been feeding the Nigerian Police with misleading information and using police personnel to block access to the national secretariat, preventing law-abiding members and executives from accessing their own offices,” she claimed.
The Gabam-led camp further dismissed the activities of certain individuals it described as impostors.
“For further clarity, the committee wishes to state categorically that the following individuals: Rosemary Effiong, Sadiq Abubakar, Ugochukwu Uba, and Ado Hussieni are not registered members of the Social Democratic Party. In fact, Ado Hussieni was long expelled from the party and therefore lacks any authority to act, speak, or represent the SDP in any capacity,” Shua’ibu declared.
She warned those parading themselves as officials to desist from impersonation, describing their conduct as “mischievous, baseless, and intended to mislead the public.”
Shua’ibu urged members across the country to remain steadfast and not be distracted by the crisis.
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