The leadership crisis rocking the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has taken a fresh turn after the police reportedly invited members of the party’s National Working Committee over an alleged attempt to seize control of its national headquarters in Abuja.
The National Chairman of the SDP, Sadiq Gombe, confirmed the development while speaking with Sunday Punch on Saturday.
Gombe said he was informed of the police invitation, although he did not personally receive any formal notice.
According to him, all members of the NWC were affected by the invitation, which he linked to the party’s internal crisis and the failed attempt to take over its secretariat.
“I was told the SDP leadership had been invited by the police following the failed attempt to take over our party headquarters. I didn’t receive any such invitation personally, but I realise all members of the NWC were invited. I want to assure you that we are always ready,” he said.
Gombe said the party had earlier petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over allegations against the expelled national chairman.
He said, “The police don’t even need to invite us. When this thing happened, we wrote a letter to the Inspector-General of Police. We asked him to investigate the fraudulent and financial crimes against the expelled national chairman to the tune of ₦626m. The IG minuted to his former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Sadiq.
“We were there following the matter for three months. They could not prosecute or investigate Gabam. Then we had to write another letter to the IG as a reminder on our petition against the expelled national chairman. The IG wrote again to the DIG and asked him to continue with the investigation.”
The SDP chairman lamented that the party’s petitions to the police and other security agencies regarding alleged financial misconduct had yielded no results.
He said the petitions had also been escalated to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Department of State Services, but no action had been taken.
Gombe questioned the fresh police invitation, insisting that the allegations had long been reported to the relevant authorities.
‘Gabam Refused Fair Hearing’
Gombe said those affected by the disciplinary process were given opportunities to appear before a disciplinary committee chaired by Sadiq Lima, but allegedly refused to do so.
He said the committee sat for 14 days at the party’s national headquarters before a white paper committee reviewed its report and recommended expulsion.
Gombe stated, “The committee sat for 14 days in our national headquarters. Unfortunately, Gabam and the national youth leader felt they are above the law, constitution of the party, and the electorate. They refused to appear before the disciplinary committee set up to give them a fair hearing and clear their names. But they refused.
“At the end of the day, we set up a white paper committee that reviewed the disciplinary committee report and recommended their expulsion. It’s not about us. The SDP is an institution governed by law, through its constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Gombe also rejected claims that external bodies such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could determine the authentic leadership of the party.
He insisted that party leadership remained an internal affair.
“So, INEC or any media propaganda is not what makes somebody chairman of a party. The Supreme Court in its wisdom has ruled severally that internal affairs of parties are exclusive to them. The parties are the ones to decide who should be their leader, not INEC,” he said.
The development is the latest escalation in the leadership dispute within the SDP following conflicting claims over the party’s authentic national leadership.
Two weeks earlier, the former National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, whose removal remains contentious, allegedly stormed the party secretariat in Abuja with armed policemen in an attempt to reclaim control of the party structure.
The crisis deepened in October 2025 after Gabam, Uchechukwu and the party’s National Auditor, Clarkson Nnadi, were expelled over allegations of misconduct and financial impropriety.