PFIPC scandal: ‘Gbajabiamila needs to step aside’ – SDP chairman

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Professor Sadiq Gombe, has called on the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to resign over the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC.

Gombe made the call on Thursday while speaking with journalists in Abuja after the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting.

According to him, Gbajabiamila should step aside both as Chairman of the PFIPC and as Chief of Staff to the President to allow for an independent investigation into the allegations surrounding the council.

“Gbajabiamila needs to step aside, not just as the chairman of this important committee, but also from his position as the Chief of Staff to the President. 

He represents one of the greatest institutions, which is the Presidency. The right thing to do is for him to step aside for a proper independent probe into the allegation and let them prove beyond reasonable doubt that he is innocent,” Gombe said.

The SDP chairman also criticised Gbajabiamila’s appointment to chair the committee on state police, saying it was inappropriate for someone facing allegations to lead such an important national assignment.

“How can the President justify setting up one of the most important committees in the life of this administration and nation (state police) and announce the same person accused of this magnitude of offence against the Constitution to lead this committee?” he queried.

Gombe further faulted the composition of the committee, alleging that the majority of its members were drawn from one region of the country, a development he said did not reflect Nigeria’s diversity.

He urged the Federal Government to uphold transparency and accountability, stressing that there were many qualified Nigerians capable of handling such national assignments.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the SDP State Chairmen Forum and the party’s Lagos State governorship candidate, Femi Olaniyi, described the PFIPC controversy as disappointing, accusing the Federal Government of losing focus.

Olaniyi also urged SDP members to strengthen the party’s structures ahead of the 2027 general elections through grassroots mobilisation, voter registration campaigns and membership drives.