My Suspension Is Fake News — SDP Chairman Gabam
National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, has dismissed reports of his suspension by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), describing the claims as false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt to destabilise the party.
Gabam’s reaction followed a statement earlier issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, as reported by Vanguard.
The statement announced his suspension alongside two other NWC members — Nnadi Clarkson (National Auditor) and Chukwuma Uchechukwu (National Youth Leader) — over allegations of financial misconduct and misappropriation of party funds running into hundreds of millions of naira.
However, in a personally signed statement on Tuesday, Gabam debunked the allegations and reaffirmed his position as the party’s leader.
“I want to categorically state that the news making the rounds about my suspension and that of other National Working Committee (NWC) members is completely false. These baseless allegations are an attempt to destabilise our great party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP). We will not be swayed by these malicious reports, and we will continue to work towards building a better future for our nation,” he said.
“We woke up to a wave of fake news circulating on social media, and I must say, it is not only unfortunate but also a blatant attack on our democratic values. As a party, we remain committed to providing a credible alternative to the Nigerian people. We have always conducted ourselves with the utmost integrity and transparency, and we will not let these baseless allegations undermine our efforts.”
Gabam noted that the presence of key NWC members and several state chairmen at the party’s national secretariat on Tuesday effectively nullified the suspension claim and reaffirmed the party’s unity.
“The presence of key party members of the National Working Committee (NWC) today, including some state Chairmen, further cleared the air on the news making the rounds, categorically denying the false reports of our suspension and reaffirming our unity and commitment to the party’s ideals.
“This gathering served as a testament to the party’s strength and solidarity, as we stand together against the malicious attempts to undermine our efforts.
“The state Chairmen and NWC members expressed their unwavering support for the party’s leadership and reiterated our commitment to providing a credible alternative to the Nigerian people. This show of unity and solidarity sends a strong message to our detractors that we will not be swayed by baseless allegations and fake news.”
He further argued that the SDP leadership has maintained a culture of transparency and accountability in all financial dealings.
“We believe that this is a deliberate attempt to undermine our efforts and tarnish our reputation. As leaders, we have always been mindful of our actions and have ensured that our financial dealings are transparent and accountable. We will not let these false allegations stand in the way of our commitment to the Nigerian people.”
On the reported invasion of the SDP secretariat by armed men, Gabam condemned the development and called for justice.
“The presence of armed thugs at our party secretariat is regrettable and unfortunate. We condemn this act of violence and demand that those responsible be brought to justice. It is essential to note that this incident has no connection to our party’s internal workings. We are committed to maintaining peace and order within our party, and we will not tolerate any form of violence or intimidation.”
Gabam assured supporters that the party remains intact and that the reported suspension was a fabrication.
“As the National Chairman of the SDP, I can assure you that our party remains strong, focused, and united. We will not be swayed by these baseless allegations and will continue to work towards building a better future for our nation. Our commitment to the Nigerian people remains unwavering, and we will not be deterred by these malicious reports.
“To set the record straight, I addressed our teeming party supporters in English and Hausa right inside my office at the National Headquarters. This is to assure them that the reports of our suspension are nothing but fake news. We will continue to communicate with our supporters and keep them informed about our activities and plans.”
He stressed that the party welcomes accountability and would not shield any member involved in misconduct, but maintained that the allegations lacked merit.
“The SDP’s leadership will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our party remains a credible alternative to the Nigerian people. We will not shield any individual found guilty of wrongdoing, but in this case, the allegations are baseless and lack evidence. We will continue to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability within our party.”
Calling on party members and loyalists to remain focused, Gabam added:
“As I conclude, I want to assure our supporters that we remain resolute and committed to our cause. We will not be swayed by fake news and baseless allegations. I urge everyone to disregard these false reports and remain focused on our mission to build a better Nigeria.
“We will continue to stand strong, united, and focused on providing a credible alternative to the Nigerian people. The fake news surrounding our suspension will not deter us from our mission. We will continue to work towards building a better future for our nation, and we will not let these baseless allegations stand in our way.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
