The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Prof. Sadiq Gombe, on Monday insisted that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) decision expelling former chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, remains valid and binding.
Gombe stated this after a closed-door meeting between party leaders and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja.
The meeting, convened by INEC, was part of efforts to resolve the ongoing leadership dispute within the party ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Gombe said the SDP attended the engagement out of respect for INEC and in response to its invitation for an alternative dispute resolution process.
According to him, 11 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), alongside other stakeholders, participated in the meeting.
He said the NEC had at a recent meeting ratified the current NWC leadership and approved the suspension and expulsion of Gabam.
Gombe added that the NEC meeting was duly communicated to INEC and monitored by its officials, with certified true copies of the proceedings submitted.
“We are here because of the respect we have for INEC and to honour its invitation for alternative dispute resolution, but we made it categorically clear that the SDP has the constitutional authority to manage its internal affairs,” he said.
He said the disciplinary action against Gabam followed allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and breach of the party’s constitution as well as the Electoral Act.
Gombe argued that under Article 19(C) of the party’s constitution, any disciplined member has five working days to appeal through internal mechanisms.
He said Gabam neither appealed internally nor approached a competent court within the stipulated period.
“From the day the NEC ratified his expulsion, he ceased to be a member of the party. He did not exhaust the internal mechanisms provided by the constitution,” he said.
Gombe also dismissed claims that leadership recognition within the party could be determined through the INEC portal, insisting that political parties retain constitutional powers over internal administration and leadership matters.
Gombe clarified that the case before the Supreme Court originated from a suit filed by an SDP governorship aspirant in Ekiti State and was not related to the party’s national leadership structure.
He further argued that no court order could override NEC resolutions on internal party administration.
“The NEC is the administrative organ responsible for the day-to-day running of the party, and its decisions remain binding,” he said.
Gombe also expressed surprise over claims that some correspondences on suspensions and expulsions were not received by INEC.
“We have duly acknowledged copies of all correspondences submitted to INEC, and these documents were again presented during the meeting,” he said.
He added that the party had conducted its national convention and presidential primary ahead of the 2027 elections in line with the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
Gombe reaffirmed the party’s commitment to credible democratic processes and urged INEC to remain impartial as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
The SDP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis in recent months, with rival factions laying claim to control of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The dispute escalated after allegations of financial mismanagement and constitutional breaches were levelled against Gabam, leading to his suspension and eventual expulsion by a faction of the NEC.
However, supporters of the former chairman have continued to dispute the process, insisting due process was not followed.
The crisis has also resulted in legal disputes and conflicting claims over the party’s authentic leadership recognition by INEC.