A fresh leadership crisis has erupted within the ranks of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), threatening to deepen existing fissures in the party as conflicting announcements over key National Working Committee (NWC) appointments set off a storm of accusations and counterclaims.
The controversy began when the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rufus Aiyenigba, issued a statement announcing the appointment of Senator Ugochukwu Uba as Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar as Deputy National Chairman (North), and Mr. Hussaini Ado Bello as the new National Financial Secretary.
While the announcement was expected to signal a new wave of inclusivity and party reorganisation, it quickly turned contentious. The party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, moved swiftly to disown the appointments, describing them as “unauthorised, misleading, and entirely false.”
Speaking through the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Muhammad Biu, Gabam stated that no constitutional meeting of either the National Executive Committee (NEC) or the National Working Committee (NWC) had been convened to deliberate or approve such appointments.
“The Social Democratic Party operates strictly within the confines of its constitution,” Biu said. “No such appointments were discussed or approved by any recognised party organ. Any publication suggesting otherwise is hereby discredited and should be disregarded by the public and our members.”
The dramatic rebuttal has sparked fresh concerns about the internal cohesion of the SDP, especially as the party positions itself as a viable alternative in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape. Analysts fear that the open display of internal discord may erode public trust and destabilize efforts to project the party as a disciplined and democratic institution.
Sources within the party allege that the dispute may have been fuelled by unresolved power tussles and regional rivalries, particularly concerning strategic positions within the party hierarchy and the control of party funds. Some stakeholders reportedly view the disputed appointments as part of a broader scheme to gain control of the party’s national structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
An SDP chieftain who spoke to Abuja Network News on the condition of anonymity warned, “If this crisis is not swiftly and decisively addressed, we may be heading down the same destructive path that has plagued other parties in the past. The leadership must rise above personal interests and prioritise the collective good.”
This latest episode adds to a growing list of challenges confronting the party, from zoning controversies to legal disputes, raising critical questions about its readiness to function as a strong opposition force.
As things stand, the battle for control within the SDP appears far from over, and unless reconciliatory efforts are initiated, the party risks slipping further into a cycle of internal strife and fragmentation.
Tags
News