The Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Tuesday disclosed that an expelled former national chairman of the party has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over alleged financial misconduct involving more than N626 million belonging to the party.
National Chairman of the party, Professor Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, made the disclosure while addressing journalists shortly after proceedings before Magistrate and District Court Judge of the FCT, Hon. Amauche Onyedum, in Abuja.
Gombe said the former party chairman was granted bail by the court under strict conditions, including the payment of N3 million, submission of his international passport and provision of two sureties with landed property in Abuja.
According to him, the party instituted criminal proceedings after allegedly uncovering discrepancies in the party’s audited financial statements and bank records.
“He was arraigned today and granted bail under conditions that include payment of N3 million, submission of his international passport and provision of two sureties with property in Abuja,” Gombe said.
He maintained that the case was not driven by personal interests but by the party’s determination to uphold institutional integrity and accountability.
“It is not about individuals; it is about an institution. The SDP is governed by law, its constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he stated.
Gombe explained that the National Working Committee (NWC) embarked on what he described as a cleansing and restructuring process aimed at restoring transparency within the party.
He alleged that an audit report submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2022–2023 review period indicated that the party generated only N32 million, with almost all the funds reportedly coming from nomination forms paid by candidates.
According to him, the report was allegedly signed solely by the expelled chairman without the endorsement of other statutory officers required under the party’s constitution.
“We later discovered documents from only two bank accounts in Zenith Bank and First Bank showing that the party actually generated about N740 million within the same period under review,” he alleged.
Gombe said the party subsequently forwarded the bank statements and related documents to INEC and requested the prosecution of the former chairman, but claimed the electoral body failed to act on the petition.
“We wrote to INEC and submitted all the documents, including the bank statements, but nothing was done. That was why we approached a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.
The SDP chairman also defended the expulsion of the former chairman and some other officials, saying the decision followed the recommendations of a disciplinary committee chaired by retired Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Sadiq Liman.
He alleged that the affected officials repeatedly failed to appear before the committee despite several invitations.
“The disciplinary committee sat for 14 days at our national headquarters, but the expelled chairman and others refused to appear because they felt they were above the constitution of the party and the law of the land,” he claimed.
According to him, the party’s National Executive Committee ratified the expulsions during a meeting held on March 9 at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
Gombe further dismissed claims challenging the legitimacy of the current party leadership, insisting that the Supreme Court had consistently affirmed that political parties reserve the right to determine their internal affairs and leadership.
“The party decides who its leaders are, not INEC. We held our NEC meeting and convention in line with due process and constitutional provisions,” he said.
He disclosed that the party faced challenges securing venues for its national convention in Nasarawa State and Abuja before eventually holding the exercise at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi State.
Gombe also accused some individuals of allegedly forcefully taking over the party’s national secretariat in Abuja with police escort while party leaders were attending the convention in Bauchi.
“They broke into our offices in broad daylight with police escort in what we considered an attempt to frustrate our convention, but we remained focused,” he alleged.
The SDP chairman warned that continued interference in the internal affairs of political parties could undermine Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Nigerians should be worried about what may happen in 2027 if these things continue,” he said.
He added that the party had earlier petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged financial infractions.
