Chaos in Gombe SDP over Suspension of State Chairman

The Gombe State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was thrown into chaos on Saturday following the suspension of its state chairman, Adamu Modibbo, over allegations of abuse of office and lack of financial transparency.

The suspension announcement was made during a press conference in Gombe, where a faction of the state executive committee leveled series of allegations against the embattled chairman.

The faction, led by the party’s Welfare Secretary, Usman Degri, accused Modibbo of running the party like a private enterprise, sidelining key stakeholders, and undermining internal party structures.

Degri alleged that Modibbo had failed to provide any financial report despite receiving donations from party supporters, and that he had been operating the party from his personal residence, which is against party procedure.

He also criticized the lack of inclusiveness in key party decisions, stating that over 90% of executive members had been denied access to official SDP membership cards.

“We have seen no meaningful progress under Modibbo’s leadership,” Degri said. “Instead, what we have seen is the witch-hunting of loyal members and the frustrating of genuine efforts to strengthen the SDP in Gombe. This change is necessary to rescue our party from collapse and restore internal order.”

The faction then announced Modibbo’s immediate suspension and named the party’s State Secretary, Mr. Aaron Yakubu, as acting State Chairman.

Ambassador Lukman Adamu Elkanem was also named as acting State Secretary.

However, the faction loyal to Modibbo has responded by suspending four members, including Yakubu, over allegations of “gross misconduct, political hypocrisy, and acts aimed at destabilizing the party.”

The suspended members have been barred from all party-related activities pending the conclusion of an internal investigation.

According to Abdulkadir Kumo, Publicity Secretary of the party, the decision was necessary to preserve the integrity and unity of the party. “No one is above the law of the party,” Kumo said. “These suspensions are necessary to preserve the integrity and unity of the party.”

The party has constituted a disciplinary committee to investigate the matter and submit its findings within a specified timeframe. Kumo warned the suspended individuals against parading themselves as party officials, stating that any such attempt would “be seen as an affront to party authority and will carry further consequences.”

The crisis in the Gombe State SDP comes just days after Modibbo joined other party leaders in declaring their intention to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 polls.

The party’s national leadership has been called upon to intervene in the crisis and help rebuild the party in the state.

As the situation continues to unfold, the SDP’s national leadership is under pressure to take decisive action to restore order and stability in the Gombe State chapter.

The party’s fate in the 2027 elections hangs in the balance, and it remains to be seen whether the current crisis will have a lasting impact on the party’s chances of success.