The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has suspended the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, the National Auditor, Nze Nnadi Clarkson; and the National Youth Leader of the party, Uchechukwu Chukwuma.
The NWC approved the immediate suspension of Gabam and the two executives over allegations of gross financial misconduct, embezzlement, misappropriation, and diversion of party funds.
Their suspension was conveyed through a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba.
Aiyenigba said their suspension followed resolutions made by members of the NWC, where overwhelming evidence was presented linking the suspended officials to a series of “unauthorised financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and the movement of funds from the party’s accounts without any approvals from the NWC.”
He added that the development first came to light when it was discovered that the National Chairman had sent an unauthorised Financial Statement to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as required from all political parties.
“A summary of the fraudulent account was also published in the newspapers. When the NWC became aware of this, it resolved to report the fraudulent irregularities to law enforcement agencies.
“The action of the NWC to suspend the National Chairman and two members of the NWC involved in the gross financial misconduct will also demonstrate to the general public that the Party, which is generally esteemed by Nigerians as a disciplined party and a credible alternative political platform for national redemption, has zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of office,” he said.
According to Aiyenigba, the decision to suspend the implicated NWC members was to pave the way for a thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar has assumed leadership of the party as Acting National Chairman, as per the provisions of the party’s Constitution.