The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe, on Monday accused some suspended and expelled leaders of the party of financial malfeasance, criminality and forceful invasion of the party’s national secretariat, saying relevant documents had been tendered before a court in Abuja.
Speaking with journalists shortly after court proceedings in Abuja, Gombe said the crisis within the party dated back to June 24, 2025, when allegations of financial misconduct and diversion of party funds were first raised against some members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
According to him, the party subsequently constituted an investigative panel headed by Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Sadiq Liman to probe the allegations.
He said the panel sat for 14 working days at the party secretariat, hearing testimonies and inviting all accused persons in line with Article 19 of the party’s constitution.
Gombe alleged that while some party officials honoured the invitation, the suspended and expelled National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam,, refused to appear before the committee.
“The matter started as far back as June 24, 2025. When allegations of financial malfeasance, misappropriation, criminality and siphoning of party funds came up, the party followed due process by setting up an investigative panel,” he said.
“The national auditor appeared before the committee, apologised and tendered his resignation, but the suspended chairman refused to appear because they felt they were above the constitution of the party and the laws of the country.”
The SDP chairman further claimed that several prominent Nigerians had attempted to mediate in the dispute by urging the party leadership to allow one of the accused persons, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, resign voluntarily in exchange for withdrawal of petitions earlier submitted to agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Department of State Services.
He, however, alleged that the reconciliation efforts collapsed after the accused persons allegedly reneged on agreed terms.
Gombe also accused Gabam and his supporters of invading the SDP national secretariat on May 7, accompanied by armed thugs and policemen, where they allegedly broke into offices and carted away sensitive party documents.
“They invaded the party secretariat with thugs in company with policemen, broke our gate and broke into offices including the treasurer’s office, financial secretary’s office and national secretary’s office,” he alleged.
He insisted that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on March 9, 2026, at Newton Park Hotel and Resort validly ratified his appointment as SDP national chairman and approved the expulsion of Gabam and Uchechukwu.
According to him, the decisions were certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission on April 30, 2026.
Gombe said motions confirming his leadership and expelling the affected officials were duly moved, seconded and adopted at the NEC meeting in compliance with the party constitution and INEC guidelines.
He further disclosed that the matter before the court was strictly a criminal prosecution involving alleged diversion and laundering of party funds rather than a leadership tussle.
“What we are pursuing is criminal prosecution relating to financial crimes against the party, not internal party leadership issues,” he stated.
The SDP chairman said he testified before the court as a witness and tendered several documents, including the disciplinary committee report, invitation letters sent to the accused persons, bank statements and company documents allegedly linked to the diversion of party funds.
“We presented bank statements showing debits and credits where party funds were allegedly siphoned and laundered through some companies linked to members of the party,” he said.
He added that the court adjourned the matter until June 17, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
