Sadiq Umar Abubakar, the chairman of the Social Democratic Party, has revealed details of the meeting conducted on Monday between the National Working Committee of the opposition party and the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission, headed by its chairman, Joash Amupitan.
Following the meeting, Abubakar informed journalists that the discussion was productive and said that the party is awaiting INEC’s decision.
He observed that the meeting was convened at the request of the party pursuing an alternate settlement to its crisis.
Abubakar affirmed that the SDP National Working Committee, under his leadership, was legitimately elected and endorsed by the party’s recent Bauchi Convention.
He stated that the party’s former chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, has been officially suspended from the party from March 9, 2026.
He criticised the decision that depended on INEC to designate Gabam as the chairman of the opposition party.
“We are present out of respect for INEC; that is why we are here, to honour the invitation for an alternative resolution,” he remarked.
He expressed astonishment that the INEC chairman claimed he had not been receiving our correspondence regarding Gabam’s suspension from the electoral commission.
“We are astonished that the chairman is informing the party that we failed to communicate regarding our correspondence from the suspension and expulsion on June 24, 2025, to the subsequent issues concerning government expansion.
The INEC chairman claims we did not convey this information, which is surprising, as we possess acknowledged copies from INEC. The national secretary has attached all relevant documents in his report for the chairman’s review. We await their response,” he stated.
This occurs during a leadership crisis that has affected the party following the electoral body’s designation of Shehu Gabam as SDP chairman, contrary to the resolution made by the opposition party’s members at its recent national convention.
DAILY POST reports that Abubakar was elected chairman of the SDP during the party’s convention in Bauchi State.