Osun 2026: SDP seeks stay of High Court judgment recognising governorship candidate

The Social Democratic Party has asked the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, to stay the execution of a Federal High Court judgment that recognised Olaitan Salawu-Adeniyi as its governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election, pending the determination of its appeal.

The SDP also urged the appellate court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from implementing the June 24, 2026, judgment delivered by Justice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, until the appeal is determined.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba.

According to the party, court documents showed that the appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1011/2026, arose from the judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026.

The SDP said the Federal High Court judgment directed INEC to enforce an earlier Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 27, 2026, recognising Shehu Gabam as the party’s national chairman, despite the party’s position that the Supreme Court had set aside that decision on May 22, 2026.

“The Federal High Court judgment ordered INEC to enforce a Court of Appeal judgment which, according to the party, had already been set aside by the Supreme Court.

“The party believes the High Court’s decision is inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“The SDP is seeking an order staying the execution of the Federal High Court judgment pending the determination of its appeal, as well as an order restraining INEC from implementing the decision until the appeal is determined,” the statement read.

The party argued that the appeal raises substantial issues requiring the consideration of the Court of Appeal.

It maintained that unless execution of the judgment is stayed, implementation of the decision by INEC could alter the subject matter of the appeal and render it ineffective if the party eventually succeeds.

“The interest of justice would be better served by preserving the existing state of affairs pending the determination of the substantive appeal,” the application stated.

The SDP added that the suit arose from the Osun State governorship primary involving Olaitan, Shehu Gabam and former National Youth Leader Ogbonna Okechukwu, whom it described as non-members of the party.

It said the respondents in the appeal include Olaitan, INEC, Gabam and former National Youth Leader Uchechukwu Chukwuma.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖