SDP in disarray as El-Rufai’s entry sparks leadership crisis

DDM News

The Social Democratic Party (SDP), once hailed as the most stable opposition party in Nigeria, is now battling internal turmoil following the controversial appointment of three new members to its National Working Committee (NWC).

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the turmoil has fractured the party’s leadership and cast a shadow on its claims of internal unity and democratic integrity.

The trouble began last week when the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, announced that three vacant NWC positions had been filled.

According to him, Senator Ugochukwu Uba was appointed Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar became Deputy National Chairman (North), and Mr. Hussani Ado Bello assumed the role of National Financial Secretary.

The appointments were allegedly made in accordance with Article 12.5 of the party’s 2022 constitution as amended, and during a meeting chaired by the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam.

Political observers initially viewed the move as a tactical repositioning of the SDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, it quickly unraveled into chaos when conflicting statements emerged from within the party.

Despite claims that Gabam presided over the meeting, he later denied that any such appointments had been made.

Speaking through Deputy National Secretary, Muhammad Biu, Gabam described the reports as “false, unauthorized, and misleading.”

He insisted that the NWC had not held a constitutional session to make any new appointments and emphasized that the leadership remained committed to due process and national inclusiveness.

He further warned against attempts by political actors to fracture the party as Nigeria inches toward another election cycle.

The tension deepened when the National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, countered Gabam’s denial with documented evidence of the appointments.

Agunloye asserted that 11 out of the 12 NWC members attended the meeting, and eight voted in favor of the new appointments.

He directly accused Gabam and two others of colluding with former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to destabilize the party.

El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP, was named as a key figure behind the chaos.

Agunloye described El-Rufai’s influence in the SDP as disruptive and claimed that he, Gabam, and their allies were displeased because their preferred candidates were not appointed.

In a bold move to legitimize the appointments, Agunloye wrote a formal letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Dated May 16, the letter detailed the meeting’s proceedings and confirmed the appointments of Uba, Abubakar, and Bello for a four-year term, pending the next National Convention.

This latest crisis now places the SDP in the company of other embattled opposition parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), both of which have been embroiled in internal disputes since the 2023 elections.

The fallout has sparked concerns among party loyalists and political analysts who once saw the SDP as a beacon of opposition unity.

They fear the crisis could hamper its chances in 2027 and derail efforts to present a viable alternative to the ruling APC.

Insiders suggest that the root of the crisis lies not just in appointments but in deeper power struggles within the party’s top echelon.

The entry of a high-profile figure like El-Rufai may have upset existing balances and triggered a realignment of loyalties.

Party members are now calling for urgent reconciliation, transparency, and a reaffirmation of democratic procedures to prevent further disintegration.

Analysts believe that unless the SDP resolves this quickly, it risks joining the long list of fragmented opposition groups incapable of mounting serious electoral challenges.

As of now, the fate of the new appointments remains uncertain, and the unity of the SDP hangs in the balance.

Meanwhile, Nigerians and political stakeholders are watching closely, hoping for clarity and resolution in a party once praised for its stability.

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