Abubakar Abdullahi, Gombe
The Gombe State Chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has been thrown into turmoil following the suspension of its State Chairman, Comrade Adamu Abubakar Modibbo, over allegations of mismanagement, lack of transparency, and misuse of party resources.
This development was announced during a press briefing held in Gombe led by the party’s Welfare Secretary, Usman Yahaya on behalf of concerned members of the state executive.
The statement outlined a catalogue of complaints against the embattled chairman, accusing him of sidelining party stakeholders and running the party like a private enterprise, thus:
Allegations of Misconduct and Poor Leadership
The statement stated that since Comrade Modibbo assumed office, the party has experienced no meaningful progress. Instead, the leadership claims he has used his position to witch-hunt loyal stakeholders and frustrate committed party members for his personal gain.
Lack of Transparency
The leadership accused Modibbo of systematically “caging” the party’s executive members and aspirants, depriving over 90% of both returning and newly acting executive members of access to official SDP membership cards.
It was further alleged that the selection of party candidates has been done without due process or consultation, with names being announced solely via national platforms involving prominent figures like Malam Nasir El-Rufai, thereby sidelining the state executive.
Lack of Prudence
The statement highlighted that under Modibbo’s leadership, there has been zero transparency regarding the party’s financial affairs. Despite donations and contributions from well-meaning supporters, no reports or updates have been shared with the executive committee or party members. “He operates like a one-man army,” the statement read.
Misappropriation of Party Resources
Another weighty allegation was the chairman’s alleged use of his personal residence as the de facto party office. This, the executives say, violates proper procedures and comes despite funds being made available to renovate the official state party office and rent offices across the local government areas. “As it stands, the SDP in Gombe State does not have a functional or recognized operational office,” the statement added.
Leadership Shake-up
In light of these allegations, the Gombe State chapter of the party has taken decisive action by suspending Comrade Adamu Abubakar Modibbo as chairman with immediate effect.
The statement announced that the current State Secretary of the party, Mr. Aaron Yakubu, will now serve as the Acting State Chairman of the SDP in Gombe.
Similarly, Ambassador Lukman Adamu Elkanem, previously serving as the Acting Assistant Public Relations Officer, has now been appointed as the Acting State Secretary of the party.
Call for National Intervention
The aggrieved party members are appealing to the national leadership of the SDP to intervene in the crisis and restore discipline, accountability, and credible leadership to the Gombe chapter of the party.
“We seek your indulgence in fixing the SDP in Gombe State with prudent leadership and transparency for the betterment of Gombe people and Nigeria at large,” the statement concluded.
Efforts to reach Comrade Adamu Abubakar Modibbo for his response to the allegations and suspension were unsuccessful as of the time of this report.
The latest crisis adds to the growing list of internal disputes threatening the cohesion of political parties in the build-up to the 2027 general elections. All eyes will be on the SDP’s national body as members await its reaction to the unfolding drama in Gombe State.