The opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) insists that the suspension of the National Chairman of the party, Shehu Gabam, is not linked to his romance with the coalition of opposition politicians led by the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who is bent on unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 polls.
This was as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party on Friday inaugurated a five-member disciplinary committee to probe allegations of criminal conspiracy, fraud, and theft levelled against Gabam, including Messrs Clarkson and Ogbonna Uchechukwu, the National Auditor and National Youth Leader of the party, respectively.
A member of the NWC of the SDP, Mrs Rosemary Effiong, at a press conference held at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja, insisted that Gabam’s suspension was not politically motivated.
She noted, “It’s not political. This has nothing to do with the coalition. The coalition is a different discussion. If we want to go into a partnership, it’s a good thing for the party. At the right time, the party will also air its view on that. So, let’s keep politics out of it.”
The Mr. Liman Abubakar-led disciplinary committee, inaugurated by the SDP’s National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, was mandated to investigate the allegations of breaches of the SDP Constitution by the trio.
Agunloye further charged the committee to examine the state of the accounts of the SDP, determine the circumstances surrounding the production and submission of audited accounts submitted to INEC in the name of the SDP, recommend appropriate remedies and generally, advise on better ways to manage the finances of the SDP to prevent abuse and breach of the SDP Constitution.
Agunloye explained that preliminary findings indicates that the trio were found wanting of commiting multiple breaches of the SDP 2022 Constitution as amended, especially Articles 13, 1 7 and 19.
Among the alleged infractions committed by Gabam included the failure to follow due process or internal audit procedures in disbursing hundreds of millions of naira of SDP funds, as well as the absence of approvals sought from or given by the NWC, as required by the party’s Constitution.
At the event chaired by the Acting Chairman of the party, Dr. Sadiq Abubakar Gombe, the disciplinary committee was directed to report back to NWC within 14 days.
Gombe charged the committee to show decorum, dignity, and decency to the trio, as it is presumed that they are innocent until the contrary is proved.
“Let the law, good conscience and equity be your guiding principles, not political consideration. Let the truth be your anchor. Obey the rule of law and observe natural justice, which essentially means that no one can be a judge in Israel’s own case, and you must hear both sides thoroughly before coming to a finding,” he stressed.
