The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the leadership of the Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe-led National Working Committee of the Social Democratic Party, setting aside a Court of Appeal judgement that had been used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise former national chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam.
The apex court, in a judgement delivered in suit number SC/CV/229/2026, held that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to institute the suit, thereby stripping the lower court of jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court consequently upheld the earlier judgement of the Federal High Court, which dismissed the matter for lack of legal standing, and faulted the Court of Appeal for making pronouncements on the party’s leadership and governorship primary election in Ekiti State.
According to the judgement, the appellate court erred in invalidating the SDP governorship primary that produced Ambassador Isaac Adebayo Alade as the party’s candidate for the June 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.
The court also set aside aspects of the Appeal Court ruling relating to the alleged parallel governorship primary involving Engineer David Oludele Bankole, as well as pronouncements concerning the party’s national leadership.
Reacting to the development, the SDP described the ruling as a final resolution of the internal leadership dispute that had rocked the party in recent months.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the party said the judgement affirmed the authenticity of the Prof. Gombe-led National Working Committee and validated decisions reached at the party’s National Convention held in Bauchi on May 9, 2026.
“By implications, it is the end of the road for Gabam and his co-conspirators, and the incontestable affirmation of the Prof. Gombe-led National Working Committee as the authentic national leadership of the SDP,” the statement said.
The party further stated that the judgement had strengthened its structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The SDP, having finally overcome the deliberate and concerted ploy to undermine and distract it ahead of the 2027 polls, has been strongly strengthened and positioned to forge ahead in its well-laid out programmes and activities towards coming out victorious in the general elections,” the statement added.
The party also commended the Supreme Court justices for what it described as courage and independence in delivering the judgement, while urging members to remain committed to the ideals of social democracy and people-centred governance.