SDP Tells INEC to Disregard Court Judgment Backing Gabam’s Leadership Claim

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 development follows the submission of the June 24 Federal High Court judgment to INEC by Gabam and his legal team in support of his renewed claim to the party’s leadership.

Reacting, the SDP said the judgment has been appealed and 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 the SDP’s 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,” the statement added.

On the leadership dispute, the party argued that the Supreme Court has consistently held that courts lack jurisdiction to determine who occupies leadership positions within 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.

“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 read.

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

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