Crisis Erupts in Social Democratic Party Over Disputed NWC Appointments

The Social Democratic Party (SDP), once touted as Nigeria’s most stable opposition platform, has plunged into crisis following conflicting statements over the appointment of three new members into its National Working Committee (NWC).

Last week, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, announced that the NWC had filled vacant leadership roles with Senator Ugochukwu Uba (Deputy National Chairman, South), Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar (Deputy National Chairman, North), and Mr. Hussani Ado Bello (National Financial Secretary). The appointments, he said, were in line with Article 12.5 of the SDP’s 2022 constitution (as amended) and were made during a meeting presided over by the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam.

However, just days later, Gabam issued a strong rebuttal through the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Muhammad Biu, denying that such appointments had been made. Gabam described the announcement as “unauthorised and false,” asserting that no constitutional meeting of the NWC had been held to effect such changes.

“The attention of the national leadership of the SDP has been drawn to misleading media reports,” Biu stated at a press briefing in Abuja. “No such appointments have been made, and the statement circulating is not reflective of any decision taken by the party’s NWC.”

The conflicting positions have now exposed deep fractures within the party. In response, SDP National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, defended the appointments and released a letter officially notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the changes. According to Agunloye, 11 out of 12 NWC members attended the May 15 meeting, with eight voting in favour of the appointments—three, including Gabam, opposed.

Agunloye further alleged that Gabam, along with two dissenting NWC members and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai—who recently joined the SDP from the All Progressives Congress (APC)—are behind the chaos now threatening to engulf the party. “They are attempting to impose their will over the majority and, failing that, are now trying to destabilise the party,” Agunloye claimed.

He stressed that El-Rufai’s involvement was particularly suspicious and dismissed his influence in the party, saying, “Nasir El-Rufai amounts to nothing in his ward.”

In his letter to INEC, dated May 16, Agunloye maintained that the appointments were made in line with constitutional procedures and had the backing of the majority of NWC members. The appointments, he noted, would last four years or until the next National Convention, subject to performance.

The growing rift has raised concerns about the SDP’s internal cohesion, with political observers warning that the party could soon find itself in the same troubled ranks as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), both of which have battled internal leadership crises since the 2023 elections.

As the party prepares for the 2027 general elections, the unfolding power struggle threatens to undermine the SDP’s claim as the last crisis-free opposition party in Nigeria.