Sadiq Gombe, the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of deliberately interfering in the internal affairs of the party with the aim of causing a crisis in the leadership of the opposition party.

He disclosed this during a briefing at the party secretariat on Thursday.

DAILY POST reports that the party’s former chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, had allegedly led political thugs to disrupt the party’s activities before police intervened.

Reacting, Gombe defended the suspension and expulsion of Gabam-led party officials in line with the party’s constitution.

According to him, the affected officials were accused of misconduct, financial infractions and acts contrary to the SDP constitution.

“We inaugurated a five-man committee under Air Vice Marshal Bakir Sadiq Gilmour to investigate the allegations. Those affected were officially invited to appear before the committee to defend themselves,” he said.

Gombe said Gabam allegedly failed to honour the invitation to settle internal disputes within the party.

“The committee sat daily for two weeks at the national secretariat. After reviewing the report, the NWC set up a white paper committee that recommended their expulsion from the party,” he stated.

“Our surprise and dismay is that on the eve of our convention, INEC invited us for alternative dispute resolution when we are not aware of any dispute,” he said.

He insisted that political parties have constitutional powers to manage their internal affairs, accusing the electoral body of attempting to impose leadership on the party.

“We are Nigerians. We are law-abiding citizens. Nobody will intimidate us in our own country. We are going ahead with our convention in Bauchi,” he declared.