The leadership crisis in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) showed no sign of abating on Friday as the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Prof. Sadiq Gombe cautioned former National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, against relying on a Federal High Court judgment to claim legitimacy, insisting that the Supreme Court had already pronounced on the matter.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP described as untenable a letter reportedly written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Gabam through his lawyers, arguing that the Supreme Court’s decision on the issue remains binding and cannot be overturned by a lower court.
Aiyenigba urged INEC to note that the Federal High Court judgment has already been appealed and is currently before the Court of Appeal.
He further stated that the plaintiff in the suit was neither the SDP governorship candidate for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election nor a participant in the party’s primary election, maintaining that Dr. Ajala remains the duly nominated candidate of the party.
According to the SDP spokesman, the Supreme Court has consistently held that courts lack jurisdiction to determine who occupies positions such as National Chairman, National Secretary, or other leadership offices within political parties.
“The judgment does not impose any obligation on INEC to recognise Shehu Gabam as National Chairman or Ogbonna Okechukwu as National Secretary,” Aiyenigba said.
He argued that portions of the Federal High Court judgment relied on a Court of Appeal decision in Fayemi Tosin Babatunde vs INEC & 4 Others, which has since been set aside by the Supreme Court in a judgment delivered on May 22, 2026.
Aiyenigba noted that INEC had already complied with the Court of Appeal ruling before it was nullified by the apex court, stressing that there is no subsisting appellate court judgment upon which the Federal High Court could base its criticism of the electoral commission.
The SDP therefore urged INEC to maintain the status quo regarding the party’s leadership pending the final determination of the appeal, warning that any attempt to alter the current leadership structure on the strength of the High Court judgment would effectively amount to a lower court overruling the Supreme Court.
“To tamper with the leadership of the SDP based on this High Court judgment would amount to the High Court restoring a Court of Appeal judgment that has already been set aside by the Supreme Court,” the statement said.
The party also accused Gabam of engaging in actions capable of undermining internal party democracy, insisting that the SDP is not the personal property of any individual.
Aiyenigba stated that the party had moved ahead with preparations for the 2027 general elections, including the submission of the nomination details of its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, and his running mate, Dr. Usman Bugaje, to INEC.
He added that the party was working to complete the upload of details of other candidates who emerged from its primaries across the country in line with the electoral timetable.
