The National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Tuesday erupted into violence as both supporters of the national chairman Shehu Gabam and those loyal to the 2023 presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, clashed and in the process pulled the gate of the national headquarters in Abuja.
The fight which started at 11. 20 am at the party headquarters at 16 Nairobi street snowballed into a serious commotion during which many were beaten and cudgeled leaving some of them with various degree of injuries.
Both the security personnel stationed at the premises and the thugs allegedly invited to help them were able to overcome those allegedly loyal to Adebayo camp and the National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba.
Some of the journalists invited to cover the NWC meeting were not left out in the maltreatment.
While the Arise TV had its camera seized and later returned to him, for filming the conflict, the Punch reporter, Francis Adebayo, was manhandled and his clothes torn for refusing to give them the phone he used to record the incident.
However, at the time of this report, National Chairman Gabam had taken charge of the office inviting policemen to maintain peace and security at the premises.
The police from the Wuse Division and those from the FCT Command arrived at the premises to take charge of the security of the place to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
The policemen were seen appealing to leave the premises but the thugs resisted and claimed that they were members of the party.
Speaking on the reason for the crisis, one of the private security personnel (name withheld) at the entrance gate, said trouble started when security personnel who man the gate of the building were locked outside to prevent members loyal to the national chairman from entering the venue of the meeting.
According to him, this scuffle that ensued forced both parties to pull down the iron gate in the process.
Meanwhile a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba stated that the National Chairman, Shehu Gabam along with two others have been suspended from the party.
The statement read, ‘The National Chairman and two NWC Members Have Been Suspended Over Allegations of Gross Financial Misconduct*
In exercise of its exclusive powers as guaranteed in Article 19.1; 19.3(i) and 19.5 of the Party Constitution (2022 as Ammended), the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has approved the immediate suspension of the National Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gbam, along with two members of the National Working Committee (NWC), namely: Nze Nnadi Clarkson, National Auditor, and Uchechukwu Chukwuma, National Youth Leader, over grave allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, misappropriation, and diversion of party funds.
“The decision followed a resolution of a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), where overwhelming evidences were presented linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorized financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and movement of funds from the party’s accounts without necessary approvals of the NWC.
“The action of the NWC to suspend the National Chairman and two members of the NWC involved in the gross financial misconduct is to demonstrate to the general public that the Party, generally esteemed by Nigerians as a disciplined party and a credible alternative political plaform 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,” the statement read.
“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, Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar has been directed to assume leadership of the party pending the outcome of the investigations.
“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.