The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, on Thursday formally regained the national secretariat and resumed office after his recognition as the authentic National Chairman of the party by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division
Gabam, who was accompanied to the national secretariat by security agents, urged party members to remain calm and peaceful.
Security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) accompanied him to the national secretariat.
He said: “Our great party, SDP, will now move on with decency and dignity to participate fully in our democratic processes with our Congress from May 16, our National Convention will hold in Abuja.
“We are disassociating ourselves from any kangaroo National Convention.
“We are not part of any arrangements outside the Abuja Convention.”
Alhaji Gabam commented the civility of the security forces, especially the Nigeria Police Force, in the process that led to his return to the office without hurting anybody.
According to him: “We thank the new Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, for his vision in piloting the affairs of the Force.
“Within the short time in office, many good things have been taking place.
“I also wish to commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for standing by the truth, and the judiciary.
Gabam urged INEC and the judiciary to continue to stand by the truth in developing the nation’s growing democracy.
He urged Nigerian to to remain calm and not lose hope in the nation’s democratic processes
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently formally recognised the Gabam-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the SDP.
The commission updated its official website to reflect the development, listing the leadership structure for the opposition party with a bold inscription that read “By Court Order” in front of the names of members of the executive, except the National Secretary.
About four weeks ago, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division affirmed 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 an aggrieved party member, Fayemi Tosin Babatunde.
According to the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, the appellant had challenged the validity of the Ekiti State governorship primary, arguing that the leadership of the party that conducted the exercise lacked legitimacy and the legal authority to constitute an Electoral Committee.
The appellant specifically faulted the National Working Committee 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.
Babatunde had also sought an order restraining 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.
