National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Sadiq Umar Gombe, on Monday declared that the lingering leadership crisis within the party remains an internal matter, insisting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no constitutional powers to determine who leads the party.
Gombe stated this after a closed-door meeting between officials of the SDP and the leadership of INEC at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said the meeting followed an invitation by the INEC Chairman as part of efforts to resolve the crisis rocking the party through alternative dispute resolution.
According to him, the SDP attended the meeting out of respect for the electoral umpire but maintained that all disciplinary measures taken against some members were validly carried out in line with the party’s constitution.
“As you are aware, we are here at the INEC headquarters on the invitation of the national chairman of INEC, where he invited the National Working Committee of the SDP along with some key stakeholders,” Gombe said.
“We are here because of the respect we have for INEC and to honour the invitation when they want to have an alternative dispute resolution.”
The SDP chairman disclosed that 11 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) attended the meeting, explaining that the committee initially had 15 members before some officials were suspended and later expelled over alleged misconduct.
He alleged that the affected officials were sanctioned for corruption, mismanagement and violation of the party’s constitution.
Gombe explained that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), at its meeting held on March 9, 2026, ratified the suspension and expulsion of one of the affected members, identified as Alhaji Musa.
“The NEC approved the suspension and expulsion, and from that day he ceased to be a member of the party,” he stated.
He further argued that the expelled member failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution process within the period stipulated by the SDP constitution.
Gombe also dismissed claims that any court order had restored the affected official to office, insisting that the party’s convention remained the highest decision-making organ of the SDP.
“INEC does not determine who is chairman or who is not chairman. The party has the right to decide on its leadership,” he declared.
The SDP chairman, however, described the meeting with INEC as fruitful, noting that some national commissioners demonstrated a proper understanding of the issues raised by the party leadership.
He also expressed surprise that the INEC Chairman allegedly claimed not to have seen some correspondences sent by the party concerning the suspension and expulsion of certain members.
“We have acknowledged copies received by INEC and attached by the national secretary for the chairman to see,” he said.
Gombe maintained that the SDP would continue to manage its affairs in line with its constitution, the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He further boasted that the SDP was the first political party in the country to peacefully conduct its convention and presidential primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
