SDP Suspends National Chairman, Two Members Of NEC

By Ayodele Oni

Allegation Of financial mismanagement is rocking the national leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This has led to the suspension of key officials of the Party.

Already,  the National Working Committee (NWC) of has approved the immediate suspension of the National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, along with two members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

They are Nnadi Clarkson Nnadi, National Auditor, and Chukwuma Ogbonna Uchechukwu, National Youth Leader over grave allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement,  misappropriation, and diversion of party funds.

The NWC noted that there are overwhelming evidences  linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorized financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and movement of funds from the party’s accounts without any approval of the NWC.

National Publicity Secretary, of SDP, Rufus Aiyenigba in a statement on Tuesday, stated that the development first came to light when it was discovered that the National Chairman had sent an unauthorised Financial Statement to INEC as demanded from all political parties.

“A summary of the fraudulent account was also published in the Newspapers. When the NWC got to know this, it made a resolution to report the fraudulent abnormalities to law enforcement agencies.

“The action of the NWC to suspend the National Chairman and two members of the NWC involved in the gross financial misconduct will also 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 (North), Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar has assumed leadership of the party as Acting National Chairman as per the provisions of the Constitution of the party.

“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 suspension of these officers has been communicated to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), and all relevant agencies.

“The suspension of Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, Nze Nnadi Clarkson, and Uchechukwu Ogbonna Chukwuma takes immediate effect. The general public is hereby requested to be appropriately guided by the development.”