SDP Suspends National Chairman Gabam, Others over Alleged Financial Misconduct

SDP Suspends National Chairman Gabam, Others over Alleged Financial Misconduct

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Social Democratic Party National Working Committee has suspended its national chairman, Shehu Gabam, and two other members over allegations of gross financial misconduct.

The spokesperson of the party, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, disclosed this on Tuesday in a Abuja, at press conference.

The other members suspended are Nze Nnadi Clarkson, National Auditor, and Uchechukwu Chukwuma, National Youth Leader of the party.

Aiyenigba stressed that the suspension of the trio takes effect immediately, adding that an interim investigative panel has been constituted to audit all financial records and recommend further disciplinary or legal actions.

“In exercise of its exclusive powers as guaranteed in Article 19.1, 19.3(i), and 19.5 of the Party Constitution (2022 as amended), 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 evidence was presented linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorised financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and movement of funds from the party’s accounts without necessary approvals of the NWC.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.

He said that 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.

The suspension of has been communicated to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), and all relevant anti- graft agencies and security agencies have been formally notified.