Sadiq Gombe, National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of interfering in the party's internal affairs. He made the allegation during a briefing at the party's secretariat on Thursday, claiming INEC's actions were aimed at creating a leadership crisis within the opposition party. Gombe said a five-man committee led by Air Vice Marshal Bakir Sadiq Gilmour was inaugurated to investigate misconduct, financial infractions and violations of the SDP constitution by officials aligned with former chairman Shehu Musa Gabam.
Those accused, including Gabam, were formally invited to appear before the committee but allegedly failed to attend. The committee sat daily for two weeks at the national secretariat, after which the National Working Committee (NWC) set up a white paper committee that recommended the suspension and expulsion of the affected officials. Gombe stated that the party was surprised when INEC invited the SDP for alternative dispute resolution on the eve of its scheduled convention in Bauchi. He insisted the party had no unresolved dispute and reaffirmed plans to proceed with the convention. "We are Nigerians. We are law-abiding citizens. Nobody will intimidate us in our own country. We are going ahead with our convention in Bauchi," he declared.
Sadiq Gombe claims INEC is interfering in SDP's internal matters even as he admits the party expelled officials without their defence being heard. The same constitutional process he cites to justify expulsions is now dismissed by INEC through intervention. If internal party democracy requires due process, then sidelining accused members without appearance undermines that claim. Nigerians watching party formations ahead of 2027 may question whose rules are really being followed.
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