What began as struggle for leadership inside the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has spilled onto the streets of Abuja, drawing in security forces and leaving party members locked out of their own headquarters.
The situation escalated after two rival factions, one led by Shehu Gabam and the other by Sadiq-Abubakar Gombe, converged on the party’s national secretariat, each laying claim to its leadership.
For many supporters who arrived early at the SDP National Secretariat, it turned into a day of confusion and frustration. The gates were shut, security presence heightened, and access denied.
The Gabam-led executive, buoyed by recent recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following a court ruling, arrived at the premises to assert control. But they were met with stiff resistance from the Gombe-led faction, which insisted it remains the authentic leadership of the party.
Sadiq Abubakar Gombe maintains that his faction is the legitimate leadership of the SDP, deepening the standoff.
As tempers flared and the situation threatened to spiral, officers of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF stepped in, taking over the premises to restore calm and enforce the court-backed order.
The police have since cordoned off the secretariat, barring both factions from gaining access, in what appears to be an effort to prevent further clashes while authorities work to maintain order.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
