By our reporter
Members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Imo State took to the streets of Owerri today in a massive protest against what they described as an illegal and coordinated attempt by a faction backed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, to hijack the party’s leadership structure.
The protest, led by Stanley Njoku and the authentic Chairman of the SDP in Imo State, Engr. Augustine Okere, drew party members from across the 27 local government areas of the state. The demonstrators condemned El-Rufai for allegedly sponsoring division within the party and supporting an illegitimate group claiming to represent the party’s national leadership.
Stanley Njoku described El-Rufai’s involvement in the party as suspicious, stating that his recent moves are designed to destabilize and impose leadership through unconstitutional means. He said that El-Rufai’s actions show a disregard for the structures and values of the SDP, which were built through years of sacrifice and grassroots engagement.
According to Engr. Augustine Okere, the so-called faction claiming leadership in the state and at the national level has no legal or moral standing. He emphasized his position as the duly recognized and constitutionally elected SDP Chairman in Imo State and urged party members to reject the distractions being created by the El-Rufai-backed group.
Protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “El-Rufai Has No Place in SDP,” “Engr. Augustine Okere Is the Only Recognized Chairman in Imo,” and “Support Dr. Gombe, Reject Illegal Factions.”
Party members used the opportunity to express their support for the Acting National Chairman, Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, who they said has brought sanity, focus, and transparency to the affairs of the party. They described attempts to undermine him as an attack on the stability of the SDP nationwide.
Stanley Njoku called on the National Working Committee, INEC, and security agencies to take immediate action against those promoting illegality within the party. He warned that failure to act could lead to further confusion and possible legal battles across states.
Similar reactions have been recorded in other states, with leaders and members rejecting the breakaway group and reiterating their commitment to the party’s constitutionally recognized leadership.
The protest concluded with a united call for vigilance and discipline within the party, urging members across the country to protect the SDP from infiltration and to remain focused on building a credible alternative for Nigerians.
As the SDP prepares for its upcoming national convention, the position of the Imo State chapter remains clear: leadership cannot be imposed by outsiders, and the future of the party must be decided by its loyal, legitimate members.
