SDP Urges INEC to Ignore Court Judgment Backing Gabam’s Leadership Claim

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by Prof. Sodiq Gombe, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard a Federal High Court judgment being relied upon by the party’s former acting National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, to reclaim the party’s leadership.

The SDP made the appeal in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba.

According to the party, the legal basis upon which the Federal High Court delivered the judgment has already been set aside by the Supreme Court.

The party said the clarification became necessary following the submission of the June 24 High Court judgment to INEC by Gabam and his legal team in support of his renewed claim to the party’s leadership.

The SDP, however, noted that it has appealed the judgment and that the matter is currently pending before the Court of Appeal.

“The SDP calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take note that the said judgment has been appealed against by the Social Democratic Party, and it is now pending before the Court of Appeal,” the statement said.

The party also maintained that the plaintiff in the case was neither its governorship candidate in Osun State nor a participant in the party’s governorship primary.

“It is clear that the said plaintiff is not the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Osun State and did not participate in our primary election. Dr Ajala is the SDP governorship candidate,” it added.

On the leadership dispute, the SDP argued that the Supreme Court had consistently held that courts lack jurisdiction to determine the leadership of political parties.

“With respect to the leadership of the SDP, the Supreme Court has maintained that courts do not have jurisdiction to determine who can be the national chairman, national secretary, or the leadership of a political party,” the statement read.

The party said it had moved beyond what it described as the distraction caused by Gabam and was now focused on strengthening its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Having moved beyond the distraction of Shehu Musa Gabam, the party is focused on strongly building and reinforcing its capacity for victory ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the statement added.

The SDP recalled that Prof. Gombe’s name was uploaded on INEC’s portal after Gabam’s name was removed.

Gabam, however, recently renewed his claim to the party’s leadership, relying on a Federal High Court judgment delivered on June 24.