SDP leadership dispute: Appeal Court upholds Gabam, voids rival claims

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has affirmed Shehu Gabam as the authentic National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), bringing clarity to the party’s lingering leadership crisis.

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 obtained in Abuja on Wednesday, 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 (NWC) 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.

The ruling effectively reinforces the legitimacy of the Gabam-led leadership, providing the SDP with an opportunity to move forward amid efforts to stabilise its internal structure ahead of future elections.