SDP Dismisses Gabam’s Court Claims, Insists Supreme Court Judgment Prevails

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dismissed attempts by its expelled former National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, to rely on a recent Federal High Court judgment in his leadership dispute, insisting that the decision cannot override an existing judgment of the Supreme Court.

In a statement issued on Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP said the Federal High Court judgment being presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was founded on a Court of Appeal decision that had already been nullified by the Supreme Court on May 22, 2026.

The party was reacting to a letter dated July 9, 2026, reportedly sent to INEC by Gabam’s legal representatives, White Chambers & Co., requesting the commission to act on the Federal High Court judgment delivered on June 24, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026.

According to the SDP, the judgment has already been appealed and is currently before the Court of Appeal, making it inappropriate for INEC to take any action based on it.

The party further argued that the Federal High Court did not issue any positive order directing INEC to recognise Gabam as National Chairman or Ogbonna Okechukwu as National Secretary. It maintained that the Supreme Court has consistently held that issues relating to the leadership of political parties are internal affairs beyond the jurisdiction of the courts.

The SDP urged INEC to maintain the status quo on the party’s leadership pending the final determination of the appeal, warning that acting on the High Court judgment would amount to giving effect to a Court of Appeal decision that had already been set aside by the apex court.

The statement also reaffirmed that Dr. Ajala remains the party’s valid governorship candidate in Osun State, noting that the plaintiff in the suit was neither the SDP candidate nor a participant in the party’s primary election.

The party accused Gabam of attempting to destabilise the SDP, describing his actions as a threat to internal democracy and insisting that the party is a public institution, not the personal property of any individual.

The SDP said it has moved beyond what it described as the era of impunity and one-man rule, pointing to the successful conduct of its second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in four months as evidence of restored internal democracy and constitutional governance.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the party said it has successfully nominated and uploaded the names of its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, and vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Usman Bugaje, while continuing the process of uploading candidates who emerged from its primaries nationwide.

The party added that it is focused on strengthening its national and state structures, expanding membership, improving internal accountability, reinforcing democratic processes, and positioning itself as a credible alternative for Nigerians ahead of the next general elections.

Ubong Usoro Nigeria Magazine