Court Ruling Sparks Twist As INEC Backs Gabam-Led SDP NWC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognised the National Working Committee of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) led by Shehu Musa Gabam, bringing an apparent end to the party’s protracted leadership crisis.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The development was reflected on INEC’s official website, where the party’s leadership structure was published with the inscription, “By Court Order,” placed before the names of the recognised executive members.

Under the updated structure, Gabam is listed as National Chairman, while Olu Agunloye is recognised as National Secretary. Other officials acknowledged include National Treasurer Hajia Maggie Mariam and National Legal Adviser Barrister Aderemi Abimbola.

The recognition follows a judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld Gabam as the legitimate chairman of the party.

In a unanimous ruling delivered on March 27, 2026, a three-member appellate panel partly allowed an appeal filed by Fayemi Tosin Babatunde, who challenged aspects of the party’s internal processes.

The court ruled that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to make pronouncements on the SDP leadership dispute, declaring those findings null and void.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, alongside Justices Abba Bello Mohammed and Oyejoju Oyebiola Oyewumi, set aside the lower court’s recognition of a rival leadership faction.

“The appeal succeeds in part,” the court held.

The case stemmed from a legal challenge surrounding the Ekiti State governorship primary, with the appellant arguing that the leadership which conducted the exercise lacked legitimacy and seeking an order preventing INEC from recognising candidates produced by that faction.

However, despite voiding parts of the lower court’s decision, the appellate court relied on INEC’s monitoring report to affirm the validity of the primary election, noting that the exercise was conducted with duly accredited delegates and produced a winner, Engr. Bankole David Oludele.