The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party SDP Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam on Thursday formally resumed Office after his recognition as the authentic National Chairman of the Party by the Court of Appeal Abuja Division
Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam who was accompanied by security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Department Of State Services, DSS , Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps urged Parry members nationwide to remain calm and be peaceful
According to him, ” our great Party SDP will now move on with decency and dignity to participate fully in our democratic processes with our Congress from May 16 , our National Convention will hold in Abuja
” We are disciating ourselves from any kangaroo National Convention, we are not part any arrangements outside the Abuja Convention
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Alhaji Gabam commented the civility of the security forces especially the Nigeria Police Force in the process that lied to his return to the office without hurting anybody
According to him, we thank the new Inspector General of Police IGP Olatunji Disu for his vision in piloting the affairs of the Force within the short time is office,, many good things have been taking place
I also wish to commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for standing by the truth and the judiciary
He urged both the Commission and the Judiciary to continue to stand by the truth in developing the nation’s growing democracy
He urged Nigerian to to remain calm and not to lose hope in the nation ‘s democratic processes
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently formally recognised Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The commission updated its official website to reflect the development, listing the leadership structure for the opposition party with a bold inscription that read “By Court Order” in front of the names of members of the executive except National Secretary.
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About four weeks ago, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, affirmed Shehu Gabam as the authentic National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on March 27, 2026, a three-member panel of justices ruled on an appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/126/2026, filed by aggrieved party member, Fayemi Tosin Babatunde.
According to the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, the appellant had challenged the validity of the Ekiti State governorship primary, arguing that the party leadership that conducted the exercise lacked legitimacy and the legal authority to constitute an Electoral Committee.
The appellant specifically faulted the National Working Committee led by Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe and Dr. Olu Agunleye, describing it as illegally constituted and in violation of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
He had also sought an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising candidates produced by the disputed leadership
The case was initially dismissed by the Federal High Court in Abuja on January 19, 2026, with Justice Emeka Nwite affirming Dr. Gombe as the party’s authentic chairman and upholding the legality of the party’s processes.
However, on appeal, the appellate court partially overturned the lower court’s decision, holding that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to make pronouncements on the SDP leadership tussle.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, alongside Justices Abba Bello Mohammed and Oyejoju Oyebiola Oyewumi, ruled that any findings made without jurisdiction were null and void.
“The appeal succeeds in part,” the court held, affirming only that the appellant was not an aspirant in the disputed primary.
The court subsequently set aside the Federal High Court’s pronouncement recognising Dr. Gombe as the authentic leader of the party, as well as
its validation of the November 8, 2025 primary election.
Despite nullifying those aspects, the appellate court relied on INEC’s monitoring report (Exhibit INEC 3), which confirmed that the primary election was conducted with valid delegates and produced a clear winner, Engr. Bankole David Oludele.
The court, however, declined to make any definitive order on the status of candidates, noting that all necessary parties were not before it.
No order as to costs was made.
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