The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has warned party members and general public to beware of Chief Supo Shonibare’s fake nomination forms and congresses.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of SDP, Ambassador Rufus Aiyenigba, the party said Shonibare, a Lagos socialite, is an impostor who ceased to be a member of the party since 2019.
The statement said Chief Shonibare is all out to defraud unsuspecting party members, friends of SDP and the public through dubious requests for financial support and by impersonating as the SDP’s National Chairman, announcing illegal fees for fake state congresses and convention and fake expression of interest and nomination forms for political elections.
“He has consistently proven to be an agent of destabilisation or distraction since he was expelled from the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in February 2019. This obviously disillusioned man may have totally lost his control from a convolution of his conflicting activities ranging from seeking justice from court, attending reconciliation meetings with SDP leadership, leveraging on leaders of a socio-cultural organisation for unwarranted advantage and outright shenanigans.
“He certainly appears to have lost his balance and started the descent into criminal infractions which may land him in gaol.
“On 7 February 2019, Chief Olu Falae announced his resignation as National Chairman of the party and his retirement from politics. Professor Tunde Adeniran, the then Deputy National Chairman (South) immediately assumed office as the National Chairman of the party, in accordance with Section 12.5.1 (v) of the SDP Constitution, 2018.
“Chief Supo Shonibare who was merely one of the six Zonal Chairmen of SDP at the time, rushed to Abuja on 11 February 2019, claiming that he was acting under the directives of a local socio-cultural organisation to take over the SDP and proceeded to illegally announce himself as National Chairman of the Party. He was roundly ignored by SDP leadership, INEC and the public.
“Chief Shonibare has now taken to public media platforms and social media to advertise and canvass for sales of bogus forms for phantom SDP congresses, convention and nomination forms to contest elections. He also asked unsuspecting members of the public to make payments to illegal bank accounts, and so, may be inching towards jail not only for contempt of the court but for criminal offences.
“The Party hereby uses this media to announce a public disclaimer on Chief Supo Shonibare that he is not a member of the SDP but an impostor and impersonator aiming to defraud the public by posing as SDP National Chairman and indulging in criminal acts like soliciting for unauthorised fees and collecting monies under false pretexts, ” the statement said.
The party warned all party members nationwide and the public in general not to deal with Chief Supo Shonibare on any matters relating to the Social Democratic Party and enjoined anyone who had already fallen victim to his mischief to report immediately to the Nigeria Police or other law enforcing agencies.
