SDP Accuses INEC of Interference, Insists Bauchi Convention Will Hold

The Social Democratic Party on Thursday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of meddling in its internal affairs, insisting that its planned national convention in Bauchi would proceed despite the ongoing leadership dispute within the party.

National Chairman of the party, Sadiq Gombe, made the allegation while addressing journalists at the SDP national secretariat in Abuja.

Gombe defended the suspension and expulsion of some party officials, maintaining that all disciplinary actions were carried out in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution.

According to him, the affected officials were accused of misconduct, financial irregularities, and acts considered detrimental to the party.

To investigate the allegations, he said the party constituted a five-man panel headed by Air Vice Marshal Bakir Sadiq Gilmour.

“We inaugurated a five-man committee under Air Vice Marshal Bakir Sadiq Gilmour to investigate the allegations. Those affected were invited officially to appear before the committee to defend themselves,” Gombe stated.

He explained that while some of the officials honoured the invitation, one of the suspended members, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, allegedly failed to appear before the panel.

The SDP chairman said the committee sat for two weeks before submitting its report to the National Working Committee, which later set up a white paper committee that recommended the expulsion of the affected officials.

According to him, none of those expelled explored the party’s internal appeal mechanisms or challenged the action in court within the period stipulated by the SDP constitution.

Gombe further disclosed that the party’s National Executive Committee ratified both his appointment as national chairman and the expulsion of the officials during a NEC meeting held on March 9 in Abuja.

He added that INEC officials monitored the meeting and endorsed the resolutions reached.

The SDP leadership, however, expressed displeasure over what it described as INEC’s sudden invitation for an Alternative Dispute Resolution meeting barely days before the convention.

“Our surprise and dismay is that on the eve of our convention, INEC invited us for alternative dispute resolution when we are not aware of any dispute,” Gombe said.

He accused the electoral commission of attempting to impose leadership on the party, insisting that political parties possess constitutional powers to manage their internal affairs.

“We are Nigerians. We are law-abiding citizens. Nobody will intimidate us in our own country. We are going ahead with our convention in Bauchi,” he declared.

The SDP chairman also claimed the party had earlier secured a court judgment restraining INEC from interfering in its affairs.

National Secretary of the party, Olusegun Agunloye, also faulted the electoral body for convening the ADR meeting despite what he described as the absence of any genuine dispute.

“Normally, it is the parties involved that request ADR. We do not know why INEC is inviting us,” Agunloye said.

He insisted that the controversy only involved a former member who was duly expelled after a process ratified by the party’s NEC and monitored by INEC officials.

Agunloye also alleged that policemen stormed the party secretariat in Abuja while members were preparing to travel for the Bauchi convention.

According to him, security operatives arrived with tear gas and dogs, forcing members out of the premises.

“Some of our members already had their luggage in vehicles when security operatives forced everyone out of the office,” he alleged.

Agunloye claimed he later contacted the Inspector-General of Police over the incident, but additional officers were deployed to the secretariat afterwards.

“They said they came to prevent trouble, but we saw it as an attempt to disrupt the party,” he added.