The Forum of State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party has endorsed the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, calling the move a necessary step to restore transparency and constitutional order within the party.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the Forum Chairman, Femi Olaniyi, who spoke on behalf of all 36 state chairmen, dismissed insinuations of internal strife and maintained that the action was a proactive measure to protect the party’s credibility.
“There is no crisis in the SDP. What we are doing is internal cleansing, not a fight for control,” Olaniyi said. “We cannot claim to stand for transparency while tolerating financial opacity within our leadership.”
Gabam, alongside the National Auditor, Clarkson Nnadi, and the National Youth Leader, Ogbonna Chukwuma, was recently suspended by the party’s National Working Committee. The Forum expressed full support for this decision, citing allegations of financial impropriety, authoritarian leadership style, and disregard for the party’s constitution.
According to Olaniyi, many state chapters had raised concerns over the handling of party finances. He alleged that under Gabam’s leadership, no financial disbursements were made to state chapters despite constitutional provisions guaranteeing their entitlement.
“We were constantly sidelined when it came to financial matters. Whenever we demanded our legitimate dues, we were threatened with suspension or outright removal,” Olaniyi claimed. “It became a case of ‘monkey dey work, baboon dey chop.’”
The Forum also criticized the failure to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting since Gabam assumed office—a violation of the party’s constitutional requirements. They urged the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary to immediately call a NEC meeting to restore order and uphold democratic principles.
“This is not about positioning for 2027,” Olaniyi clarified. “It’s about doing what’s right for the survival and credibility of the party.”
The chairmen pledged to nominate a representative to the Disciplinary Investigation Panel set to look into the allegations and insisted that the investigative process must remain transparent and free of political influence.
