INEC obeys court ruling, recognises Gabam-led SDP leadership

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has updated its records to recognise Shehu Gabam as the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in compliance with a judgment of the Court of Appeal.

A check on the commission’s official website shows that the party’s leadership structure has been updated, with a bold inscription “By Court Order” placed before the names of members of the National Working Committee, NWC, except that of the National Secretary.

INEC listed Mr Gabam as National Chairman, while Dr. Olu Agunloye was named National Secretary.

Other members of the NWC published on the commission’s website include the National Treasurer, Maggie Mariam, and the National Legal Adviser, Aderemi Abimbola.

The development follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which affirmed Mr Gabam as the authentic National Chairman of the 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 a party member, Fayemi Babatunde.

According to the Certified True Copy 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.

He specifically faulted the National Working Committee, NWC, led by Sadiq Gombe, describing it as illegally constituted and in violation of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

The appellant also sought an order restraining INEC from recognising candidates produced by the disputed leadership.

The suit was initially dismissed by the Federal High Court in Abuja on January 19, 2026, with Justice Emeka Nwite affirming Gombe as the party’s authentic chairman and upholding the legality of the party’s processes.

However, the Court of Appeal 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 Nyesom-Wike, alongside Justices Abba Mohammed and Oyejoju Oyewumi, ruled that 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 appellate court subsequently set aside the Federal High Court’s pronouncement recognising Gombe as the party’s authentic leader, as well as its validation of the November 8, 2025 governorship primary.

However, the 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, Bankole Oludele.