Violence broke out at the Social Democratic Party (SDP) national headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, as a group of armed men dressed in black stormed the premises, assaulting journalists and party staff.
The incident occurred amid rising tensions within the party after the suspension of key national officers, including the National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam.
The SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of Gabam, National Auditor Nnadi Clarkson, and National Youth Leader Chukwuma Uchechukwu over allegations of serious financial misconduct.
The officials are accused of embezzling, misappropriating, and diverting hundreds of millions of naira in party funds without authorization.
Journalists covering a press briefing at the time were caught in the turmoil. Several had their phones and cameras seized, while some, including our correspondent, were physically attacked before security personnel restored order.
In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, cited overwhelming evidence of unauthorized financial transactions and personal enrichment as the basis for the suspensions.
“The NWC acted after receiving compelling proof that implicated the suspended officials in illicit transfers of party funds without committee approval,” the statement said.
The crisis deepened when Gabam allegedly submitted an unauthorized financial report to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was leaked to the media, causing alarm within the party.
Aiyenigba confirmed that law enforcement agencies have been informed and that a comprehensive internal investigation is ongoing.
Dr. Sadiq Abubakar, Deputy National Chairman (North), has been appointed Acting National Chairman pending the investigation’s conclusion.
An interim investigative panel has been established to audit all financial dealings, particularly regarding proceeds from nomination forms sold prior to the 2023 general elections funds suspected to have been misused.
“The party is determined to hold any guilty parties accountable and restore public confidence in the SDP as a credible political alternative,” Aiyenigba added.
The suspensions have been officially reported to INEC and other relevant authorities.
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