SDP Crisis Deepens: Gabam Faction Expels Adewole Adebayo, Names Atanda New Presidential Candidate

Adebayo and 12 Others Expelled as Atanda Emerges Flagbearer

The Social Democratic Party fell deeper into crisis on Wednesday as the faction loyal to reinstated National Chairman Shehu Gabam expelled 13 top party figures, including 2023 presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo. The faction then adopted Lagos businessman Abimbola Atanda as the party’s new presidential candidate for 2027.

The purge happened during a national convention in Abuja. Apart from Adebayo, those shown the door include factional National Chairman Sadiq Gombe, National Secretary Olu Agunloye, and National Publicity Secretary Rufus Aiyenigba.

The convention dissolved the National Working Committee and re-elected Gabam as chairman. A new leadership team was installed, with Adebola Abbas as National Secretary and Zakari Nadabu as National Publicity Secretary.

Gabam: “We Are Stronger Today”

Speaking to journalists after taking his oath, Gabam said the party had weathered its troubles and come out the other side. He said the expulsions targeted members who had acted in ways “inconsistent with the ideals, principles, and constitutional provisions of the party.”

“Any party without a crisis is a briefcase political platform,” Gabam said. “It is a crisis that strengthens a party to understand some of the gaps and how to strengthen them.”

He insisted INEC, the judiciary, and other institutions had been kept informed of the developments within the SDP.

Gombe Camp Fires Back

The rival Gombe-led faction wasted no time. Spokesman Aiyenigba called the convention a “nullity” and said Gabam had no authority to act as chairman after being expelled from the party himself.

Aiyenigba said INEC only recognised Gabam because of a subsisting court order, and that the commission had been “comprehensively briefed” on the real state of the SDP leadership at a meeting with the full complement of National Commissioners on Monday.

“The SDP is not a private estate of Shehu Gabam; it belongs to the Nigerian people,” he said.

This latest round of infighting follows months of rival factions trading expulsions. INEC recently recognised Gabam’s camp through a court-backed decision, but the Gombe faction has not backed down.

Sources: BusinessDay, Punch, The Guardian