The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain professionalism in its conduct and relationship with the political parties and other democratic stakeholders.
Factional Chairman of SDP, Adamu Modibbo on Wednesday during a press conference in Abuja, said that the call became imperative following the just concluded by-elections in 12 states.
He noted the opposition party noticed strange behaviours that pose danger to the growth and stability of internal democracy in Nigerian political parties, ahead of the 2027 general election.
At the briefing attended by the National Publicity Secretary, Amb. Judith Shuaibu and other NWC members, Modibbo said Nigerians should watch out for the SDP and see how it will perform in 2027.
Asked why they are not using the National Secretariat of the party to carry out their activities, the Chairman said that the office is not habitable and safe for its members, adding that some members of other faction of the NWC have chased them away using the police.
On whether his election as Chairman and other members of NWC were observed by INEC, Modibbo explained that the electoral umpire was written to, stressing that the Constitution of the party and the Electoral Act were strictly adhered to.
His words: “We want to make it categorically clear to the public that Dr. Olu Agunloye and his cohorts, including impostors such as Prof. Sadiq Umar Gombe, attempting to parade few unconstitutional National and State executives, should not be taken with any iota of seriousness.
“Their behaviours and conduct are unacceptable and should not be regarded.
“We condemn bids for illegal meetings and deliberate attempts to persecute party officials and members using the Nigerian Police Force in the strongest possible terms and urge our members and the general public to be cautious of these impostors.
“We call on all security agencies to respect the Rule of Law and refrain from interfering in our Party’s internal affairs. Their primary duty is to protect lives and property, not to embrace obvious bias with ethnic undertones.
“Additionally, we encourage the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain professionalism in her conduct, as we have been noticing strange behaviours that pose danger to the growth and stability of internal democracy in Nigerian Political Parties,” he said.
TheHintsNews reports that the crisis rocking the SDP took a new twist 25th July when the Alhaji Shehu Gabam and Dr. Sadiq Abubakar led factions were dissolved to pave way for a new NWC led by Modibbo.
The new NWC leadership emerged during the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where 23 state chairmen including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were in attendance.
Checks revealed that it was at the meeting that Gabam was replaced by Abubakar in an acting capacity, before Modibo was eventually elected.
The National Secretary of the party, Dr Olu Agunloye who is with Abubakar’s faction described the NEC meeting as illegal and irregular.