SDP has demanded for Gbajabiamila’s resignation over PFIPC allegations and faulted Tinubu’s State Police Committee appointment.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to step aside over allegations linking him to the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), insisting his continued stay in office could undermine public confidence in the Federal Government.
The opposition party also criticised President Tinubu’s decision to appoint Gbajabiamila as chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill despite the unresolved allegations.
The position was made known on Thursday during the second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the SDP held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
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Speaking at the meeting, the SDP National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, argued that public officials facing allegations of serious misconduct should temporarily vacate office to allow for an independent investigation.
According to him, appointing Gbajabiamila to head one of the administration’s most strategic committees while the allegations remain unresolved sends the wrong signal.
“There is no way a public officer will be accused of something of this magnitude, and he will still remain glued to his position,” Gombe said.
He questioned the rationale behind Tinubu’s decision to entrust the Chief of Staff with leading the committee responsible for developing the legal framework for state policing.
“How can the President justify setting up one of the most important committees in the life of this administration and announce the same person accused of an offence of this magnitude against the Constitution to lead it?” he asked.
Gombe maintained that Nigeria must demonstrate commitment to accountability and democratic values.
“We need to show the world we are really ready for democracy and ready to lead Nigeria and Africa. The way we are going, I don’t think it is fair to Nigerians,” he added.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the SDP chairman also faulted the composition of the 12-member Presidential Working Group, alleging that the committee lacked regional balance.
According to him, nine members of the committee were drawn from one section of the country, a development he said could deepen concerns over inclusiveness.
“People need to be sensitive to our diversity and collective commitments as a nation,” he stated.
He reiterated that there are many qualified Nigerians capable of leading the committee, insisting Gbajabiamila should relinquish both his chairmanship of the state police committee and his position as Chief of Staff pending the outcome of investigations.
“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.
Also speaking, the lawmaker representing Lafia Central Constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Solomon Akwashiki, said he would withhold judgment until the investigation is concluded.
Akwashiki noted that both the Presidency and the National Assembly had initiated steps to address the matter and urged Nigerians to await the outcome.
“I think it will be better for us to wait for the outcome. Nigerians are interested in knowing what is really happening, so I will reserve my comment until we know the outcome of the probe,” he said.
The Chairman of SDP State Chairmen and the party’s Lagos State governorship candidate, Femi Olaniyi, described the controversy as unfortunate and criticised the Tinubu administration.
“It is so disappointing. This government of Bola Tinubu has lost track, lost control and doesn’t even know where to go,” Olaniyi said.
He, however, declined to comment extensively on the PFIPC controversy, noting that the matter is already before the courts.
The criticism comes barely two days after President Tinubu inaugurated the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill to develop the legal framework for implementing state police following the Senate’s passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026.
Represented at the inauguration by Gbajabiamila, the President named his Chief of Staff as chairman of the committee. Other members include the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, and representatives of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
The committee has been tasked with drafting the National Policing Bill, which will establish the legal and operational framework for the proposed state police system.
The latest criticism also comes amid allegations surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), including claims that Gbajabiamila received ₦400 million through a proxy to facilitate an appointment. The Presidency has denied the allegations.
Earlier this week, President Tinubu publicly defended his Chief of Staff, expressing confidence in Gbajabiamila’s integrity and dismissing the allegations as a campaign of calumny against one of his closest aides.
