BREAKING: Crisis breaks out in SDP as Protesters Pull Down Party Headquarters Gate in Abuja

Crisis breaks out in SDP as Protesters Pull Down Party Headquarters Gate in Abuja

The crisis within the Social Democratic Party (SDP) reached a boiling point on Tuesday as protesters stormed the party’s National Secretariat in Wuse 2, Abuja, tearing down the main entrance gate amid an ongoing leadership meeting by the National Working Committee (NWC).

The protest, which unfolded just ahead of the 2027 general elections, highlights growing unrest within the party, though the precise cause remains unclear as of press time. Eyewitnesses report a chaotic scene, with party members and supporters clashing amid shouts and chants condemning perceived imposition of leadership.

Journalists covering the unfolding situation were reportedly assaulted by security operatives attached to the party headquarters, according to NEWS WEEK NIGERIA. Several reporters were forced to leave the premises, raising concerns about press freedom and the escalating volatility within the SDP.

Insiders suggest the protest may be linked to internal opposition against the alleged imposition of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as a key figure in the party’s leadership. El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the SDP, has been a polarizing figure in Nigerian politics.

A source within the party told NEWS WEEK NIGERIA that the move to position El-Rufai for leadership has angered several long-standing members, some of whom accuse the party’s leadership of sidelining internal democracy.

Fueling speculation, El-Rufai appeared on Arise Television just a day before the protest, vowing to oppose the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. The former governor’s strong rhetoric and recent political maneuvers have added fuel to the fire within the SDP, sparking fears of deeper factional rifts.

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