Sadiq Gombe, who chairs the Social Democratic Party, has hit out at INEC over what he calls interference in party affairs. He believes the electoral commission is trying to spark internal conflict within the opposition movement.
Gombe made the accusation during a press briefing at party headquarters on Thursday. He spoke after tensions erupted involving former party chairman Shehu Musa Gabam.
DAILY POST reported that Gabam had reportedly mobilized political thugs to disrupt party activities. Police had to step in to restore order.
In response, Gombe defended recent suspensions and expulsions of Gabam's allies. These actions followed party constitution provisions, he insisted.
The accused officials faced serious charges. They stood accused of misconduct, financial breaches, and violations of party rules.
"We set up a five-member panel under Air Vice Marshal Bakir Sadiq Gilmour," Gombe explained to reporters. "The panel investigated allegations for two solid weeks at our secretariat."
According to him, the affected parties received official invitations to defend themselves before the committee. Gabam allegedly rejected this opportunity to settle disputes internally.
"After reviewing the panel's findings, our National Working Committee formed a white paper committee," he noted. "That body ultimately recommended their expulsion from the party."
What troubled him most happened just before the convention. INEC suddenly invited the SDP for alternative dispute resolution talks, he said.
"We're not aware of any dispute that would warrant this," Gombe told journalists in frustration. "Political parties have constitutional authority over internal management, not INEC."
He accused the electoral body of overreach and intimidation tactics. Gombe stressed Nigeria's democratic values shouldn't permit such interference.
"Nobody will push us around in our own nation," he declared firmly. "Our Bauchi convention goes ahead as planned."
