Police Invite SDP Leaders Over Alleged N626m Fraud Probe as Gabam Reportedly Storms Secretariat

TL;DR: Police invited the Social Democratic Party’s National Working Committee over a disputed headquarters takeover, while the party’s leadership seeks a probe into alleged N626 million fraud by the expelled chairman.

Context: The SDP has been split since October 2025 when former national chairman Shehu Gabam, the national auditor Clarkson Nnadi, and official Uchechukwu were expelled for alleged financial impropriety. Gabam has rejected the expulsion and claims he remains the legitimate leader.

Two weeks ago, Gabam reportedly arrived at the party secretariat in Abuja with armed police, attempting to seize control of the headquarters. The incident heightened tensions and prompted the current police invitation to the party’s National Working Committee.

The standoff has left the party with two rival claimants to the national chair, each controlling different factions and assets.

Key Facts: SDP National Chairman Sadiq Gombe said he was informed that police had invited all NWC members regarding the failed attempt to take over the party headquarters, though he personally did not receive a formal notice.

The SDP leadership had previously petitioned the Inspector‑General of Police to investigate alleged financial crimes worth N626 million against Gabam. The petition followed months of unsuccessful attempts to get the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS to act on the allegations.

What It Means: The police invitation signals that authorities are treating the internal dispute as a possible criminal matter, but the SDP insists that leadership decisions belong to the party under Supreme Court rulings on internal party affairs. Gombe warned that repeated petitions have yielded no action, raising questions about the effectiveness of anti‑corruption agencies in political party disputes.

The party maintains that its disciplinary process gave Gabam a fair hearing, which he refused, leading to the white‑paper recommendation for expulsion. Observers will watch whether the police act on the fraud petition or if the dispute moves to the courts for a definitive ruling on leadership.