- Commission writes police to address crisis rocking party
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has affirmed the Alhaji Shehu Gabam-led National Executives of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as the authentic leadership of the party.
This was contained in a correspondence by INEC to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
The commission requested for the names of the authentic officials of the party in a bid to address its age-long leadership crisis.
The letter, which was signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, was addressed to the FCT police commissioner.
Its memo was titled: “Re: request for names of the National Executives of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)”.
The memo reads: “Your letter reference number SB/3380/FCT/VOL.3/11, dated July 28, on the above subject refers. Please, find attached the list of the National Executive of the Social Democratic Party, as requested.
“List of National Officers elected at the Social Democratic Party National Convention held at International Conference Center on June 8, 2022
“The above subject matter refers; Having submitted the list of the elected National officers at our National Convention to the INEC officials that monitored our convention, we now write to formally forward same to your office for perusal and record.
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“Name Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam
(National Chairman), Dr. Olu Agunloye (National Secretary); Ambassador Rufus B. Aiyenigba (National Publicity Secretary),
Ogbonna Uchechukwu (National Speaker, Youth Parliament), Joseph Abu (National Organizing Secretary), Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdullahi (National Speaker, Women), Hajiya Maggie M. Batubo.
(NATIONAL TREASURE), DR. ADEREMI ABIMBO (NATIONAL LEGAL ADVISER),
CHIEF LEKAN ALABI (NATIONAL LEADER, PWD), NZE CLARKSON NNADI (NATIONAL AUDITOR), SENATOR MOHAMMED ALKALI (NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN-NORTHWEST), FREDRICK E. OWOTORUFE (NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN-SOUTHSOUTH), SIR CHIEF ARINZE EKELEM (NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN-SOUTHEAST), ABDULLAHI M. KANI (NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN NORTHCENTRAL), CHIEF SILAS ALANI ITVEDP, (NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN SOUTHWEST), ΟΒΙΝΝΑ BRIGHT EKWEBELEM (SOUTHEAST ZONE, SECRETARY), BASSAGI GIMBA, (NORTHCENTRAL ZONE SECRETARY)…
“Accept the assurances of the commission’s high regard.”
A faction of the party had suspended Gabam and two other members over alleged general misconduct and appointed Dr. Sadiq Abubakar Gombe as the Acting National Chairman of the party
Then a third faction loyal to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai emerged to drag it into the coalition with others. The faction dissolved the Gombe and Agunloye-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and appointed Abubakar Modido as the acting National Chairman
In a swift reaction, the party disowned El-Rufai, saying he had been banned for over 30 years.
The development prompted the FCT police command to write officially to the INEC for the list of the authentic members of the NWC of the party to restore law and order
Reacting to the development, Gabam hailed the police for seeking clarification from the electoral body rather than relying on falsehood from those he called desperate politicians.
He cautioned those still parading themselves as members of the NWC of the party outside the INEC authenticated list to stop such an illegal act.
The SDP stalwart said appropriate security agencies would arrest them for impersonation and be prosecuted according to the laws of the land.