The Imo State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, alleging that some individuals, backed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, are plotting to cause chaos in the state under the guise of holding a political summit.
In a petition signed by the State Chairman, Engr. Augustine Okere, and addressed to the Commissioner of Police, the party listed Mallam El-Nasiru, Adamu Abubakar Moddibo, Amb. Eluwa Ifeanyi Henry, and Rev. (Dr.) Andy Nwokoro among those allegedly engaged in impersonation and acts capable of breaching the peace.
The petition warned that the planned event, disguised as “An Annual Political Conference Summit” and scheduled for Friday, September 5, at Vanessa Hotel, Orlu Road, Owerri, was unauthorized and posed a direct threat to peace and harmony in the state.
Against this backdrop, SDP members staged a protest in Owerri, condemning what they described as an illegal and coordinated attempt by El-Rufai’s faction to hijack the party’s leadership structure.
The demonstrators, drawn from all 27 LGAs of the state, marched through major streets before converging at the party secretariat.
The protest was led by Engr. Augustine Okere, the Imo State Chairman, and Stanley Njoku, who described El-Rufai’s sudden intrusion into SDP affairs as dangerous, suspicious, and designed to destabilize the party.
He accused El-Rufai of seeking to impose a leadership structure on the party through unconstitutional means.
Placards wielded by protesters bore 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.” The protesters chanted solidarity songs, vowing never to allow what they termed “outsider manipulation” to take root in Imo politics.
Addressing the crowd, Okere declared that the faction parading itself as the authentic leadership of the party lacked both legal and moral standing. He urged members across the state to reject what he called “desperate distractions” being sponsored to weaken the party from within.
The protesters reaffirmed their support for the Acting National Chairman, Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, and National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, stressing that both leaders remain the only legitimate authorities of the SDP at the national level. They insisted that the party must not be allowed to fall into the hands of “political mercenaries.”
Stanley Njoku called on the National Working Committee, INEC, and security agencies to act swiftly against those behind the attempted hijack.
He warned that failure to clamp down on the illegal faction could trigger political unrest and prolonged legal battles across states.
However, despite the petition and the street demonstrations, El-Rufai went ahead to hold peaceful deliberations with some stakeholders of the party in Owerri at the designated venue.
Protesters who attempted to storm the venue were barred from entering by security operatives, while journalists who arrived to cover the meeting were also turned back by bouncers stationed at the entrance — fueling further outrage among party loyalists.
The Petition To The Imo State Police Command
