Police seal SDP secretariat in Abuja amid leadership crisis
…as Shehu Gabam assumes chairmanship Tension gripped the National Secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja on Thursday after armed personnel of the Nigeria Police Force laid siege
…as Shehu Gabam assumes chairmanship
Tension gripped the National Secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja on Thursday after armed personnel of the Nigeria Police Force laid siege to the party headquarters in Wuse 2.
The development occurred shortly after the party concluded screening presidential aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The presence of heavily armed security operatives around the secretariat caused anxiety among party members and passersby, who gathered to observe the situation.
National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, said the operation was led by the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, Ahmed Sanusi.
According to Aiyenigba, police officers ordered party officials and staff off the premises, citing the need to maintain public order amid the party’s leadership dispute.
“Police were brought into the office and asked all of us to leave. They came in large numbers, led by the FCT Commissioner of Police, and ejected everybody,” he said.
“They said they needed to secure the place because they were aware of a leadership crisis and, for the safety of lives and public order, everyone had to leave the premises,” he added.
Aiyenigba further stated that shortly after the building was cleared, the suspended National Chairman of the party, Shehu Gabam, was allowed into the secretariat.
He, however, noted that there was no violence or physical confrontation during the operation.
“The police are working in contact with an expelled member who is not known to the law. The Nigerian Police compromised in this. They are meant to defend the law, not to aid in breaking the law. They also had a roughshod approach to the party's constitution and Nigeria's.
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“The Supreme Court has agreed that there is no court in the land that can determine that issue as it relates to the party. And there is a pending case in court. The man you are talking about has cases against him. Why would you not allow due process? If we also go and bring in higher authority and invade the place, there will be a breakdown of law and order. So that was what happened.
“We are civilised people. We are not operating under oppressive political conditions. These are distinguished Nigerians and respected individuals. It is a serious party structure. You have a two-time minister of the Federal Republic as the National Secretary. You have a distinguished Nigerian Senator serving as the Deputy National Chairman. And the National Legal Adviser of the party is a lawyer of over 40 years' standing. So, we cannot be staging a public street fight with some hoodlums in the name of political engagement. So, we left the place”.
The incident has triggered sharp condemnation from party leadership, who characterised the move as a direct attempt to stifle opposition.
The occupation of the SDP headquarters is the latest in a series of similar interventions across the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday.
The Nigeria Police Force has not issued a formal statement clarifying the specific legal grounds or intelligence that necessitated the deployment at the SDP Secretariat.
There has been no confirmation of any arrests made during the operation, though party officials reported significant panic.
All efforts to get a response from the police were futile, as the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, did not pick up her calls or respond to text messages.
