The Social Democratic Party’s National Working Committee has removed its former National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, and the former National Youth Leader from the party’s membership.

This determination was made Thursday in Abuja following an NWC meeting that concluded months of internal reviews and disciplinary procedures.

National Publicity Secretary Mr. Rufus Aiyenigba briefed journalists after the session, explaining the action stemmed from adopting a White Paper report analyzing findings from a Disciplinary Committee established to investigate allegations against the officials in question.

READ ALSO: SDP never involved in any activity with APC – Adebayo 

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The NWC had previously suspended these individuals on June 24, 2025, after determining they had committed acts contravening the party’s constitution and financial rules, Aiyenigba noted. To maintain impartiality, an independent Disciplinary Committee was formed on July 4, 2025, which concluded its work within two weeks and delivered its findings.

The SDP Publicity Secretary stated that after examining the committee’s findings, the NWC endorsed the recommendations, resulting in Gabam and Uchechukwu’s expulsion. Former National Auditor Mr. Clarkson Nnadi was also removed from his position after tendering his resignation voluntarily.

Eight additional members—Adamu Abubakar Modibbo, Abubakar Dogara, Nuraddeen Bisalla, Solsuema Osaro, Ambo Ekpeyong, Eluwa Ifeanyi Henry, Humphrey Unwukaeze, and Judith Israel Shuaibu—faced expulsion for purported disloyalty and unauthorized entry into the party’s national secretariat on July 28, 2025.

Security personnel apprehended the expelled members while they allegedly possessed sensitive party documents and valuables reportedly removed from the secretariat, according to Aiyenigba. Law enforcement authorities are now handling the matter as a criminal investigation.

The expulsion was essential to “restore integrity, discipline, and internal order” within the party, he explained. The announcement confirmed the action became effective immediately on Thursday, October 23, 2025, receiving unanimous NWC approval.

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The SDP leadership has committed to implementing additional administrative recommendations from the White Paper to forestall similar situations going forward.

On June 24, 2025, the SDP had suspended Shehu Gabam, Ogbonna Uchechukwu, and Clarkson Nnadi over accusations of financial misconduct, embezzlement, and unauthorized fund withdrawals. This event initiated the internal turmoil that has culminated in their permanent removal from the party.

Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti has refuted reports circulating on social media that he has defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor’s response came after several online platforms suggested that Otti had abandoned the Labour Party—the platform that brought him into office—to join the ruling national party.

READ ALSO: Otti sue’s ex-commissioner Chikamnayo for ₦100bn over defamatory comments 

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, dismissed the defection story as “completely false” and the work of “political mischief-makers trying to distract the government.”

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Kanu suggested that those spreading the rumors are unsettled by the governor’s consistent performance and rising popularity across the political landscape. He confirmed, “Governor Alex Otti remains a committed and proud member of the Labour Party, the platform under which the good people of Abia overwhelmingly elected him to serve.”

According to the Commissioner, Otti’s focus remains unchanged: “it remains on rebuilding Abia, promoting transparency, and ensuring that every part of the state feels the impact of good governance.”

The statement also reminded the public that during the October edition of “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” the governor had already made it clear that his priority was genuine service and the transformation of Abia State, not political defections or power plays.

Ultimately, the statement reaffirmed Otti’s loyalty to the Labour Party, characterizing his administration as one guided by the principles of “accountability, fiscal discipline, infrastructure renewal, youth empowerment, and inclusive development.”

Kanu urged Abians to disregard the rumor, insisting it was another attempt to distract from the progress the state is currently experiencing under Otti’s leadership. He concluded, “We wish to assure Abians that Governor Alex Otti remains resolute in his mission to continue to build a new Abia where truth, justice, and equity prevail under the banner of the Labour Party.”

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The internal turmoil in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has worsened following the emergence of a forged signature of the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, on an official document submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the faction led by Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.

The alleged forgery, involving a convention notice sent to INEC on August 29, 2025, has intensified divisions within the opposition party just weeks before its planned national convention.

READ ALSO:  Defection: Douye Diri dumps PDP, new party unknown 

Senator Anyanwu, in a letter dated October 15, 2025, addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the INEC Chairman, distanced himself from the document, describing it as “criminally forged.”

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“My attention has been drawn to the above titled official letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with Ref. No. PDP/DOM/GF.2/Vol. 1M/25 – 140 dated Monday, August 25, 2025 purportedly signed by me,” he wrote.

“Regrettably, the quoted letter was never signed, authorized or known to me. It is shocking to have a forged/cloned version of my signature on the letter.”

“I therefore, request that this criminal conduct by officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their collaborators within INEC be investigated and the culprits prosecuted.”

The controversy has triggered renewed calls from PDP stakeholders for accountability within the leadership, with several National Working Committee (NWC) members accusing Damagum of manipulating party processes in a bid to retain power.

Despite internal resistance, the Damagum-led faction remains determined to proceed with the convention scheduled for November 16. Critics, however, warn that the move could plunge the party into further legal chaos given unresolved congress disputes across various states.

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A senior NWC member who requested anonymity said: “This is not the time for shortcuts or deceit. The signature of our National Secretary was forged which means the party must take decisive action. Any process founded on illegality will not stand.”

Meanwhile, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja reaffirmed an order on Thursday, October 17, 2025, directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of an ongoing lawsuit.

The case, filed by aggrieved PDP members, including the party chairmen in Imo and Abia States, seeks to stop the convention on the grounds that no valid congresses were held to produce delegates.

Justice Omotosho fixed October 20 for the hearing of the substantive suit and cautioned all parties to respect the subsisting order restraining further action.

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