Northern Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have distanced themselves from recent statements allegedly issued in their name concerning internal matters of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), declaring the statements as false, unethical, and unauthorized.
In a press release dated May 20, 2025, and signed by key Northern chairmen under the Northern SDP Chairmen Forum (NSCF), the leaders said they were not present at the said NWC meeting and therefore could not have issued any comment on its proceedings. They also warned against being used to create tribal fault lines within the party.
“We have no authority to interfere in the affairs of the National Working Committee,” they said. “Anyone who made such a statement on our behalf is acting maliciously and unethically.”
In a joint statement signed by Hon. Nuradeen Bisalla, FCT Chairman and representative of North Central. Hon. Ali Shattima (Kano State Chairman, North West), Hon. Adamu Modibbo (Gombe State Chairman, North East), and Barr. B. Y. Yarima (Chairman, Northern Chairmen Forum), the leaders reaffirmed their loyalty to the national chairman of the party and cautioned against attempts to pit regions against each other.
“It is inappropriate for us to issue statements urging the NWC to take action against any national leader, such as the Public Relations Officer,” the statement emphasized.
According to them, the forum is committed to party cohesion and national unity, not regional sentiments. “We believe in the cohesion of the party across the country and do not want to be perceived as tribalistic,” he stated.
Calling for calm and internal reconciliation, the forum urged the national chairman to “personally make a statement that will bring everyone together for an amicable resolution of the crisis,” reaffirming that “North and South are one entity under our national chairman.”
This development comes amid rising tensions within the SDP’s national leadership, and the Northern forum’s position is seen as a move to prevent escalation and reinforce party unity.
