The leadership crisis in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) deepened after the faction loyal to reinstated National Chairman Shehu Gabam announced the expulsion of 13 party chieftains, including former presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo.

The development emerged during the party’s national convention and presidential primaries held in Abuja on Wednesday, according to a report by Punch Newspapers.

Delegates aligned with Gabam also adopted businessman Abimbola Atanda as the party’s new sole presidential candidate through a voice vote.

Others expelled alongside Adebayo include factional National Chairman Sadiq Gombe, National Secretary Olu Agunloye, National Publicity Secretary Rufus Aiyenigba, Joseph Abu, Maggie Batubo, Sa’adatu Abdullahi, Abimbola Aderemi, Oguchukwu Uba, Huseesini Bello, Alabi Lekan, Rosemary Effiong and Abubakar Modibo.

The convention also dissolved the party’s National Working Committee before electing a fresh leadership team through a voice vote.

The newly inaugurated officers include Gabam as National Chairman, Adebola Abbas as National Secretary, Ibrahim Biu as Deputy National Secretary, Dr Uchechukwu Chukwuma as National Organising Secretary, Muka’ila Mavo as National Legal Adviser, Zakari Nadabu as National Publicity Secretary, Hauwa Ahmed as National Woman Leader, Steven Otu as National Youth Leader and Abubakar Isiaka as National Financial Secretary.

In a statement during the convention, the faction said the affected members were sanctioned for allegedly violating the party’s constitution and undermining internal unity.

Gabam later told journalists that the crisis had strengthened the party rather than weakened it.

“We have bounced back and are fully operational,” he said, adding that institutions including the Independent National Electoral Commission and the judiciary had been informed about alleged irregularities within the party.

However, the rival faction led by Gombe rejected the convention and expulsions, describing them as illegal and unconstitutional.

Speaking in a telephone interview, Aiyenigba insisted Gabam was no longer the authentic chairman, claiming INEC only recognised him because of an existing court order.

He described the convention as a “nullity” and accused Gabam’s camp of destabilising the party.

The latest development comes months after the Gombe-led faction earlier announced the expulsion of Gabam and some of his loyalists, escalating the battle for control of the party ahead of the 2027 general election.

The crisis shifted again in April when Independent National Electoral Commission formally recognised Gabam’s leadership and updated its website with the inscription “By Court Order”.