The National Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party, led by Chief Wole Adesina, has raised the alarm over what it described as two disturbing developments threatening the integrity and unity of the party.
In a statement on Monday, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Alfa Mohammed, condemned the influx of aggrieved politicians forming a coalition aimed at sacking President Bola Tinubu without presenting any clear-cut alternative vision for Nigeria’s transformation.
Mohammed said, “The influx of some aggrieved politicians in a desperate coalition to ‘send President Bola Ahmed Tinubu back to Lagos’ without showcasing any clear-cut alternative agenda for Nigeria’s transformation.
“The party is not for sale or lease to any group, and will not be part of any anti-government plots or coalition that lacks a clear alternative agenda for Nigeria’s transformation.”
The faction pledged to maintain constructive engagement with the federal government while holding it accountable, but distanced itself from any coalition allegedly seeking to derail the administration and undermine the mandate of Nigerian voters from the 2023 general elections.
The faction also called on SDP leaders across the country to resist any attempts to usurp their positions, urging them to report such incidents to the appropriate authorities, encouraging party members and supporters to remain calm as efforts to reclaim full recognition from INEC are ongoing.
“We call on SDP leaders at all levels to resist any attempt to usurp their leadership and report such actions to the appropriate authorities, while leaving the party’s doors open for genuinely intentioned new members,” he added.
The Adesina-led NEC also denounced what it called the illegal replacement of constitutionally recognised state executives of the SDP by the coalition group, in collaboration with a rival faction of the party.
The committee likened the current situation to a similar crisis in 2019, when defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Prof. Jerry Gana, attempted to take control of the party’s leadership.
That episode, according to him, led to the resignation of then National Chairman, Olu Falae, and sparked ongoing legal disputes within the party.
