The Forum of Social Democratic Party State Chairmen has backed the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Shehu Gabam and two other national officers.

The forum, at a news conference addressed on Friday in Abuja by its Chairman, Femi Ferrari, said that the suspension followed due process.

The SDP National Working Committee on Tuesday announced the suspension of Mr Gabam as the national chairman, Nze Clarkson as National Auditor and Uchechukwu Chukwuma as National Youth Leader.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, in a statement in Abuja, stated that Mr Gabam and others were suspended over allegations of gross financial misconduct, including funds generated from the 2023 general elections.

Mr Aiyenigba said that the suspension was approved by the NWC, in exercise of its exclusive powers as guaranteed in Article 19.1; 19.3(i) and 19.5 of the party’s Constitution (2022 as amended).

Mr Ferrari, after a meeting attended by 22 members of the forum, said that the suspension was part of the process to sanitise the party of corruption.

Mr Ferrari said that the forum expressed concerns about the suspended national chairman’s unilateral and autocratic leadership style, particularly in his interactions with the state chairmen and members of the NWC.

He alleged that since Mr Gabam became the party’s national chairman, he refused to call for a National Executive Committee meeting or remit money meant for the state chapters.

He stated, “It is important to note that all actions taken have been initiated by the state chapters. Our situation can be summarised by the phrase, ‘monkey dey work, baboon dey chop.’ This forum has repeatedly requested that the national chairman remit the state’s allocated percentage, as outlined in the constitution, but he has consistently ignored the requests. No state chapter has received any fund from the money raised, and whenever we inquire about our dues, we encounter threats of removal or suspension.’’

Mr Ferrari called for an immediate investigation into allegations against Mr Gabam in a transparent, honest and fair manner.

“To this end, the forum has offered to nominate a member of the Disciplinary Investigation Panel who shall be a state chairman,’’ he said.

Mr Ferrari urged the party leadership to allow the disciplinary committee or investigation panel free hand to do a truly honest, open, fair and legally just investigation without any political or other motivation or interference.

“We urge the investigation body to follow the rule of law and due process along the lines of natural justice and for the findings to be made public without delay,” he said.

He urged party members to remain calm and not be swayed by media manipulations regarding the suspended chairman, saying that the entire process followed the party’s constitution.

Maintaining that there was no crisis within the SDP, he said that the party was committed to building a strong internal democracy and presenting Nigeria as a credible alternative.

“We use this medium to assure all the members of SDP nationwide and all Nigerians that the leadership cleansing in the SDP is not about power play or 2027 or coalition or APC, PDP or other conspiracy theories. It is about doing the right thing at the party,’’ Mr Ferrari said.

He said that leaders of political parties must know that when money was donated or contributed to the party, it was for the development of the party, not for an individual to appropriate as personal resources.

Mr Ferrari said that for an opposition political party such as the SDP which Nigerians were looking up to, it had no other choice than to be and be seen to be above board, more than the proverbial Caesar’s wife.

Mr Gabam had, however, described his suspension as “fake news” and a product of political mischief.

He urged members of the public to disregard the purported suspension, saying “I remain the national chairman of the SDP.’’

On the alleged financial misappropriation against him, Mr Gabam described it as false, saying he had nothing to hide.

(NAN)