The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is embroiled in a crisis following reports of unauthorized appointments to its National Working Committee (NWC). The party has refuted claims that Ugochukwu Uba and Dr. Sadiq Abubakar Gombe were appointed as members of the NWC, specifically as Deputy National Chairmen for the South and North, respectively. According to the SDP, neither Uba nor Gombe are registered members of the party, rendering them ineligible for any position within the NWC.

Chief Arinze Ekelem, the National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the SDP, issued a statement debunking the purported appointment of Senator Ugochukwu Uba. He stated that Uba's name is not found in the SDP’s register. Similarly, the party denied the appointment of Dr. Sadiq Abubakar Gombe, emphasizing that he is not a registered member and could not have been appointed as claimed. The SDP has dismissed these reports as misleading and fabricated to create confusion, urging authentic members and Nigerians to disregard them.

Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, had previously announced the appointments, stating they were made in accordance with the SDP Constitution and the mandate given to the NWC by the National Convention. However, The Guardian reports that Aiyenigba issued this statement without the authorization or prior knowledge of the party’s leadership. This has further fueled the internal crisis within the SDP, which is being considered as a potential party of choice for an opposition coalition movement, amidst crises in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party.

Ugochukwu Uba previously served as the Director-General and later as a Commissioner in Anambra State during the SDP administration of Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife in 1992. Sadiq Abubakar Gombe was the SDP’s pioneer National Secretary from 2010 to 2015 and the party’s Governorship Candidate in Gombe State in 2011. Despite their past affiliations and contributions, the current SDP leadership insists they are not registered members.

The Gombe State chapter of the SDP has also disowned the reported appointment of Dr. Sadiq Abubakar Gombe, asserting that he is not a registered member in any ward, local government, or state chapter. Comrade Adamu Abubakar Modibbo, the acting state chairman, described the claims as false and politically fraudulent, stating that Gombe's name is not recorded in any membership register. The state chapter views this action as a clear assault on the democratic values and internal structures of the party.

In response to these events, the SDP’s National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, expressed shock and vowed to investigate those behind the false appointments, labeling it an orchestrated attempt to destabilize the party. Despite the turmoil, Gabam remains optimistic about the SDP’s future, emphasizing the party's commitment to rebuilding its structures and consolidating the gains from the 2023 general elections.