The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled 13 of its members, including its 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, citing anti-party activities and financial misappropriation of party funds.
The announcement was made in a public statement issued by the party’s official handle on Sunday, days after its National Convention held on May 20, 2026, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
According to the statement, the expulsions followed deliberations at the convention. The party explicitly disclaimed any transactions, engagements, representations, or business conducted by the affected individuals in the name of the SDP, warning that they no longer possess the authority to act on behalf of the party.
The expelled members are:
Dr. Olu Agunloye
Prince Adewole Adebayo
Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe
Joseph Achile Abu
Maggie Mariam Batubo
Sa’adatu Abdullahi
Rufus Ayienigba
Barr. Abimbola Aderami
Ugochukwu Uba
Hussaini Bello
Alabi Lekan
Rosemary Effiong
Comrade Abubakar Modibo
The development comes amid a deepening leadership crisis within the SDP. Reports indicate that the convention was convened by the faction loyal to the court-reinstated National Chairman, Shehu Gabam. At the same gathering, delegates reportedly adopted Lagos businessman Abimbola Atanda as the party’s new presidential candidate for the 2027 elections through a voice vote and reconstituted parts of the National Working Committee.
Prince Adewole Adebayo, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the SDP platform and had signalled interest in running again in 2027, is the most prominent figure on the expulsion list. His removal, alongside other key figures such as Dr. Sadiq Gombe and Dr. Olu Agunloye, has sparked reactions on social media, with some expressing surprise at the move against the party’s former flagbearer.
The SDP, a minor but ideologically distinct party in Nigeria’s political space, has been embroiled in factional disputes for months, with rival groups holding parallel meetings and making competing claims to legitimacy. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has previously recognised Shehu Gabam as National Chairman.
The party’s statement urged members of the public, stakeholders, and relevant institutions to take note of the expulsions and be guided accordingly.Further reactions from the expelled members or the rival faction are yet to be made public as of press time. Political observers say the latest development may further fragment the SDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
