***Warns Against Recognition of Suspended Officials
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has lodged a formal protest with the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over what it described as its “unjust exclusion” from the Commission’s meeting with political party leaders held on October 14, 2025, at INEC headquarters in Abuja.
In a letter dated October 15, 2025, and jointly signed by Professor Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, Acting National Chairman, and Dr. Olu Agunloye, National Secretary, the party stated that it received no invitation to the meeting.
The SDP described the incident as “a serious breach of protocol and fairness”, especially after reports surfaced that a suspended former National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, may have attended the meeting purportedly on behalf of the party.
“Worse still, it would appear as if a personal invitation was sent to Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam secretly by INEC staff or courier to enable him to attend the INEC gathering purportedly as one representing the SDP, despite that Alhaji Gabam had been suspended,” the letter stated.
The party reminded INEC that Alhaji Gabam and two others were suspended by the National Working Committee (NWC) on June 24, 2025, for alleged disloyalty, leadership failure, anti-party activities, and financial misconduct.
The SDP claimed the trio were involved in irregular withdrawals of hundreds of millions of naira from party accounts without valid approval or documentation, contrary to the party’s constitution.
The suspension, according to the SDP, was communicated to INEC through a letter referenced SDP-NHQ/0625/NWC/T.01, dated June 25, 2025, and acknowledged by the Commission on June 26, 2025.
“It has become imperative to remind the Commission that the suspension of Alhaji Gabam and others remains valid,” the party emphasized.
The SDP also reaffirmed that its official national secretariat remains at 17 Nairobi Street, Wuse II, Abuja, where it has operated since 2018, and urged INEC to direct all correspondence to that address.
Furthermore, the party requested that the INEC Chairman grant an appointment for an interactive session with the 11-member National Working Committee (NWC) to provide clarity on recent developments within the party and ensure the Commission’s records reflect the current leadership.
“We respectfully request a meeting at your convenience to provide further information and documentation for the avoidance of doubt,” the letter concluded.
The protest underscores the lingering leadership tensions within the SDP following the suspension of Gabam, who had previously led the party into the 2023 general elections.