The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Sodiq Abubakar, on Tuesday defended the party’s decision to prosecute former national chairman, Shehu Gabam, over alleged financial misappropriation and related offences.
Abubakar spoke after Gabam was arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on a six-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of over N35 million belonging to the party, forgery and breach of trust.
Gabam was docked alongside Chukwuma Uchechukwu in the case marked DCC/10/2026 before the Federal Capital Territory Chief Magistrate Court.
The former SDP chairman pleaded not guilty to the charges before the presiding magistrate, Amauche Onyedium.
The court subsequently granted him bail in the sum of N3 million with two sureties resident in Abuja.
Reacting to the development, Abubakar said the prosecution was part of efforts by the party leadership to restore accountability and protect the party from external influence.
“We are confident that the judiciary will do justice to our millions of members,” Abubakar told journalists shortly after the hearing.
He disclosed that the party had earlier petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute Gabam over the allegations but claimed no action was taken.
“According to him, the party had asked INEC to prosecute Gabam, but nothing was done, which is why the matter was taken before the court,” he said.
Abubakar further accused the former chairman of mismanaging party funds during his tenure between 2022 and 2023.
“He squandered the party’s funds during his time between 2022 and 2023,” he alleged.
The arraignment comes amid ongoing leadership tensions within the opposition party following the emergence of Abubakar as national chairman during the SDP convention held in Bauchi on May 9, 2026.
The crisis deepened over the weekend after suspected loyalists of Gabam allegedly vandalised the gate of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
