Former governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State, Segun Oyegbolu, has reaffirmed that Shehu Gabam remains the authentic National Chairman of the party, dismissing claims of his expulsion as baseless and politically motivated.
Speaking during an interview on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television, which aired on Thursday, Oyegbolu maintained that the SDP is not engulfed in any leadership crisis as being circulated in the media.
“SDP is not in crisis by any imagination. The national chairman remains Gabam,” Oyegbolu said.
His statement follows recent reports announcing Gabam’s alleged expulsion from the party a move that has sparked confusion within political circles.
Oyegbolu, however, insisted that those claiming to have removed Gabam have no legitimate standing in the SDP structure recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Those who claim to have expelled Gabam from the SDP are not authentic members of the party. They are unknown to us and INEC,” he said.
The former candidate emphasised that all state chairmen of the SDP across the country had been verified by INEC as of 30 January 2025, and none of the authentic party executives have endorsed Gabam’s removal.
“Every state chairman of the SDP in any state of this country has been verified as at January 30 of this year by INEC, and all of these states are with INEC,” he explained.
Responding to reports suggesting a suspension or expulsion of Gabam, Oyegbolu dismissed them as idle gossip.
“Coming to talk about whether the chairman was expelled or suspended, whoever is coming up with those stories, we will just look at them like beer parlour stories. They are nothing to be taken seriously,” he added.
Meanwhile, Gabam himself has maintained that he remains the legitimate National Chairman of the SDP, assuring supporters that the party’s national leadership remains intact and focused on strengthening its presence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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