Violence erupted at the national secretariat of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja on Tuesday as suspected thugs reportedly loyal to embattled National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, disrupted a press briefing and attacked journalists, deepening the party’s already boiling leadership crisis.

The chaos followed a resolution earlier in the day by a faction of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) suspending Gabam and two other key officials over alleged financial impropriety.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the NWC announced the immediate suspension of the National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, National Auditor, Nnadi Clarkson and the National Youth Leader, Chukwuma Uchechukwu.

“The decision followed resolutions made by members of the NWC, where overwhelming evidence was presented linking the suspended officials to a series of unauthorised financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and movement of funds from the party’s accounts without the committee’s approval,” Aiyenigba said.

He also alleged that Gabam submitted an unauthorised financial statement to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), sparking concerns among party leaders.

Following the suspension, the NWC announced the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Sadiq Umar Abubakar, as Acting National Chairman, pending the outcome of internal investigations.

Aiyenigba further disclosed the formation of an interim investigative panel to audit the party’s financial records, review funds from the nomination form sales ahead of the 2023 elections and recommend legal actions against those found culpable.

“The party will not shield any individual found guilty. Our goal is to restore public confidence in the SDP as a credible alternative for national leadership,” Aiyenigba said.

The suspension has since been communicated to INEC and relevant authorities, the statement noted.

As journalists gathered at the party’s secretariat to cover the developments, suspected thugs reportedly loyal to Gabam stormed the premises, attacking members of the press and forcing the briefing into disarray.

The usually quiet premises turned into a scene of chaos as chairs were overturned and media equipment damaged, with security operatives arriving late to restore order.