SDP state chairmen accuse El-Rufai of plotting to destabilise party

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Chairman of the Forum of State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Femi Olaniyi Ferrari, has dissociated his members from what he called fake meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), in Abuja on Friday, accusing the former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai of masterminding the purported meeting.

Noting that the meeting took place without the knowledge of the Chairmen’s Forum or the summons of the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), he accused El-Rufai of plotting to destabilise the party, stressing that members of the Forum who attended the meeting were misled and lured to the meeting by El-Rufai.

In a statement, Ferrari dissociated his members from the meeting, describing it as reckless, unconstitutional, and lacking authority, quorum, and legality.

He maintained that El-Rufai was no longer a member of the party as he had been suspended by the Kaduna State chapter of the party over false membership claims.

Part of the statement reads: “Today, July 25, the Forum of SDP State Chairmen learned that a meeting, misleadingly referred to as a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, took place in Abuja without the knowledge of the Chairmen’s Forum or the summons of the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).

“As a result, the Forum entirely distances itself from this reckless, unconstitutional, and invalid meeting, which lacked authority, quorum, and legality.

“We know that a few of our chairmen who attended the meeting were misled and lured there by the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad Elrufai, who appears desperate to destabilize the party for reasons known only to him.

“Coincidentally, Elrufai has been disavowed by the Social Democratic Party in his home state of Kaduna due to false membership claims. “His actions have caused chaos and mischief, and he has engaged in anti-party activities, despite falsely claiming to be a party member without any official record, apart from social media posts and photographs with SDP figures.”

He noted that the Forum remained in support of the NWC’s leadership under Shehu Musa Gabam as national chairman and Dr Olu Agunloye as national secretary.

He said: “The Forum firmly supports the leadership of the National Working Committee, duly elected at the June 2022 National Convention. “The committee appointed Shehu Musa Gabam as National Chairman and Dr. Olu Agunloye as National Secretary.

“We pledge our unwavering support to the authority of that lawful NWC, currently led by acting National Chairman, Dr. Sadiq Abubakar Umar.

“We kindly request that the National Working Committee exercise fairness and natural justice towards our members who unwittingly attended the fake meeting. Justice must be tempered with mercy so that the innocent are not punished alongside the guilty.

“We call for a thorough investigation into those responsible for organizing this mischievous and embarrassing meeting, with appropriate sanctions to be implemented where necessary.

“We reiterate that our forum abides by the decision of the SDP national leadership not to associate the party with the so-called coalition. “We await further directives from the National Working Committee while pledging the loyalty of our members to the SDP Constitution and the legitimate leadership of the party.

“Our members are committed to cooperating with any investigation set up by the NWC to identify the wrongdoers. No amount of financial inducement or promises of bribes will lead the SDP State Chairmen to betray the party.

“Consequently, our members whose signatures were forged or misused to send fake letters to INEC have filed complaints through sworn affidavits submitted to both INEC and the SDP National Secretariat.

“We urge members of the media and the general public to refrain from associating or crediting our forum and our members with this disgraceful gathering of unknown individuals.”

END