From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
The Gombe State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has plunged into crisis following allegations bordering on abuse of office, financial opacity, and leadership misconduct levelled against the state chairman of the party, Comrade Adamu Abubakar Modibbo.
According to the party’s welfare secretary, Usman Yahaya Degri, who addressed newsmen on behalf of concerned state executive members on Saturday, Modibbo was accused of mismanaging party affairs, sidelining stakeholders, and personalising the party’s operations.
He alleged that since Modibbo assumed leadership of the party in Gombe, it has suffered stagnation, adding that the chairman excluded over 90% of executives and aspirants from accessing party materials and denied them a voice in key decisions, including candidate selections.
Degri further accused Modibbo of conducting party business solely through national figures without consulting the state chapter. “He operates like a one-man army,” he added, noting that Modibbo had also used his private residence as the party’s operational office, despite funds provided for a state headquarters.
Speaking further, Degri announced that as part of the party’s leadership restructuring, Modibbo has been suspended and that the state secretary, Mr Aaron Yakubu, has been appointed as acting chairman, while Lukman Adamu Elkanem is also selected to serve as acting secretary.
He called on the national leaders of the party to intervene, restore order, and ensure transparency in the matters of the Gombe State chapter. Meanwhile, reacting to the development, the state publicity secretary, Abdulkadir Kumo, announced the immediate suspension of the assistant secretary, Mr Aaron Yakubu, the assistant publicity secretary, Usman Yahaya, and Lukman Adamu Elkanem.
According to him, the suspension was sequel to the resolution reached at the State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, where the leadership of the SDP reviewed their recent conduct and found it necessary to take immediate disciplinary action.
“You are hereby suspended from all party activities with immediate effect for gross misconduct, acts capable of causing confusion and division within the party, and political hypocrisy that runs contrary to the principles and discipline of the Social Democratic Party,” Kumo said in a statement he issued on behalf of Modibbo.
“This decision is aimed at preserving party unity, discipline, and the integrity of our democratic values as enshrined in the party constitution. You are advised to refrain from parading yourselves or acting in any official capacity on behalf of the party pending further investigation and possible appearance before the State Disciplinary Committee,” the publicity secretary added.
The development in the Gombe State chapter of the SDP comes amid broader intra-party tensions, political and loyalty realignment, as well as calculations across Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
