Alhaji Shehu Gabam, the embattled National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, has described his expulsion from the party as “illegal, null, and void,” calling it a desperate attempt by impostors to destabilize the organization.
Gabam, along with National Youth Leader Dr. Ogbonna Uchechukwu and others, was expelled on Thursday.
However, Gabam responded by dismissing the move as unconstitutional and ineffective, according to Vanguard Newspaper.
A statement signed on Friday in Abuja by his Special Assistant (Legal), Abubakar Baba, declared, “The said meeting is illegal, null and void, and of no effect whatsoever,” citing Article 13 (iv) of the SDP constitution, which empowers only the National Chairman to preside over meetings of the National Convention, National Executive Committee, National Working Committee, and National Caucus.
“Any meeting convened or presided over without the consent of the duly recognized chairman constitutes a gross violation of its constitution and a brazen attempt to usurp legitimate authority,” it added.
Baba further chastised the National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, for reportedly writing to the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit the meeting’s purported decisions, characterizing it as a violation of Part 2 (12) 3 of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022.
To back up its claim, the statement said a Certified True Copy (CTC) from INEC verifying Gabam as the recognized National Chairman had been attached.
“The purported suspension of the chairman and all other members of the party is null and void and of no effect whatsoever,” it added.
The statement claimed that one Dr. Sadiq, who presided over the expulsion, “was neither a member of the party nor of its National Executive Committee, and thus had no authority to preside over any of its meetings.”
“The general public is hereby advised to disregard the actions of the Dr. Sadiq-led group, as they are impostors and will be duly punished by law for their illegal actions,” the statement warned.
Chronicle NG, however, reported that it was the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, at the national secretariat, while addressing journalists, who announced the expulsion.
He mentioned that it was the outcome of months of investigation and disciplinary proceedings.
Reaffirming Gabam’s leadership, the SDP said it remains committed to “upholding the rule of law, maintaining internal order, and protecting the integrity and reputation of the SDP.”
“The Alhaji Gabam leadership remains focused on building the party and strengthening the nation’s democratic ideals in partnership with loyal members,” the statement concluded.
