Oluwatosin Ogunkolade
The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Sadiq Abubakar Gombe, says the party’s expelled former national chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, has been remanded in custody over alleged financial misconduct involving more than N626 million in party funds.
Gombe disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing journalists shortly after proceedings before a Magistrate and District Court Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Amauche Onyedum.
He said Gabam was remanded following his arraignment on charges linked to alleged discrepancies in the party’s financial records and bank statements.
According to him, the court also granted the defendant bail under strict conditions, including payment of N3 million, submission of his international passport, and provision of two sureties with landed property in Abuja.
“He was arraigned today and remanded in custody. He was also granted bail under conditions that include payment of N3 million, submission of his international passport and provision of two sureties with property in Abuja,” Gombe said.
The SDP national chairman said the case was not personal but part of efforts to protect the integrity of the party and enforce accountability within its leadership structure.
“It is not about individuals; it is about an institution. The SDP is governed by law, its constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Gombe said the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had embarked on an internal cleansing and restructuring process aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability.
He alleged that an audit report submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2022–2023 financial review period showed that the party declared only N32 million in revenue, largely from nomination forms.
According to him, the report was allegedly signed solely by Gabam without the required endorsement of other statutory party officials.
He further alleged that bank statements from accounts operated with Zenith Bank and First Bank of Nigeria showed that the party actually generated about N740 million within the same period.
“We later discovered documents from only two bank accounts in Zenith Bank and First Bank showing that the party actually generated about N740 million within the same period under review,” he said.
Gombe said the party had forwarded relevant documents to INEC and requested Gabam’s prosecution, but alleged that no action was taken.
“We wrote to INEC and submitted all the documents, including the bank statements, but nothing was done. That was why we approached a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.
He added that Gabam’s expulsion followed recommendations of a disciplinary committee chaired by retired Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Sadiq Liman.
According to him, the committee sat for 14 days at the party’s national secretariat, but the affected officials failed to appear despite several invitations.
“They refused to appear before the disciplinary committee because they felt they were above the constitution of the party and the law of the land,” he alleged.
Gombe said the party’s National Executive Committee later ratified the expulsions during a meeting held on March 9 at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
He also dismissed challenges to the legitimacy of the party leadership, insisting that internal party affairs remain the exclusive preserve of political parties.
“The party decides who its leaders are, not INEC. We held our NEC meeting and convention in line with due process and constitutional provisions,” he said.
Gombe said the party initially planned to hold its convention in Nasarawa State and later Abuja but was unable to secure venues before eventually holding it at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi State.
He said the SDP successfully conducted its national convention on May 9, during which members of the National Working Committee were elected.
Gombe also alleged that some individuals forcefully took over the party’s national secretariat in Abuja with police escort while party leaders were attending the convention in Bauchi.
“They broke into our offices in broad daylight with police escort in what we considered an attempt to frustrate our convention, but we remained focused,” he said.
He warned that continued interference in internal party affairs could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He added that the party had submitted petitions to the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Department of State Services over the alleged financial infractions.
