The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has plunged deeper into internal disarray as its National Executive Committee (NEC) on Friday dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC) led by suspended chairman, Shehu Gabam, escalating an already protracted leadership tussle.
In a dramatic move following an emergency NEC meeting in Abuja, presided over by the party’s National Financial Secretary, Ibrahim Biu, a new interim leadership was announced to “move the party forward,” effectively sidelining the embattled Gabam faction.
“The NWC, by this resolution, stands dissolved,” Biu declared. “We hereby nominate the following persons to take charge of the affairs of our great party.”
Among those named were Adamu Modibo (interim National Chairman), Abubakar Dogara (Deputy Chairman), and Ekpeyong Ambo (National Secretary), alongside other party stalwarts.
However, the move was immediately dismissed as illegal by National Secretary Dr Olu Agunloye, who described the NEC meeting as “invalid” and a desperate ploy by political adversaries. In a fiery rebuttal, Agunloye accused the organisers of forging signatures to lend credibility to the gathering, adding that over a dozen state chairmen had filed affidavits disowning the meeting.
“This is to let members of the National Executive Committee of our great party know that the NWC dissociates itself from the so-called NEC meeting in Abuja,” Agunloye said in a statement. “State chairmen should be properly guided and not be lured into a trap that violates our party’s constitution.”
The rupture comes after months of bitter infighting that saw Gabam suspended by a faction loyal to Agunloye over allegations of fraud and misappropriation—allegations the former chairman dismissed as politically motivated. The resulting impasse led to clashes at the party’s national secretariat that required police intervention.
“We have put in so much effort to build this party since our 2022 convention,” Biu said. “But reconciliation efforts have failed. We cannot continue like this; the party is suffering, and we must act to preserve it.”
Coalition Withdrawal and the El-Rufai Fallout
Amid the unfolding drama, the SDP also announced its withdrawal from the opposition coalition recently floated by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Dogara explained the decision was driven by a desire to maintain the party’s political identity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“SDP was initially part of the coalition,” Dogara said. “But stakeholders have since resolved that we contest the elections under our own banner with presidential and vice-presidential candidates.”
In a separate twist, the party issued a strong disclaimer disowning former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, who it said had been falsely speaking on the SDP’s behalf. At a press conference in Kaduna, North-West Zonal Secretary Inuwa Idris declared El-Rufai had no affiliation with the party.
“Let this be unequivocally clear: Malam El-Rufai is not authorised, mandated, or recognised by the SDP in any capacity to speak on its behalf,” Idris said. “His actions were carried out without the knowledge or approval of the national leadership.”
Idris reaffirmed the party’s formal leadership structure, naming Dr Sadiq Umar as acting National Chairman and Agunloye as National Secretary, while confirming Prince Adewole Adebayo as the party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer.
The party also passed a vote of no confidence in political ally-turned-rival Dr Umar Ardo, accusing him of covertly promoting the ADC while exploiting the SDP platform.
“We call for the immediate suspension of Dr Umar Ardo,” Idris said. “This is the height of desperation and a crass display of political failure.”
As the party teeters on the edge of implosion, what remains unclear is whether this latest purge will resolve its crisis—or simply deepen the fault lines ahead of a critical election cycle.
