The Court of Appeal in Abuja has again affirmed Prof Abubakar Sadiq Gombe as the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, thereby laying to rest the long drawn legal battle on the soul of the party.
The appellate court in a unanimous decision delivered on Wednesday, by a three-man panel led by Justice Fadawu Umaru voided the Federal High Court judgment that had recognised the expelled Shehu Gabam as chairman.
Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on becoming aware of the development, has began giving effect to the judgment by including SDP on the ballot paper for the coming Governorship election in Osun State.
The panel, which also comprised Justices M.S. Hassan and L.A. Ganiyu, declared Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026 a nullity, voided it and set it aside.
The appeal against the Federal High Court judgment was filed by the Gombe-led SDP leadership to challenge the High Court’s decision that sought to restore Gabam to office despite his expulsion.
Justice Umaru held that the Federal High Court erred in law because the Supreme Court had already settled the leadership issue in favour of Gombe’s leadership on May 22, 2026.
SDP presidential candidate and lead counsel, Prince Adewole Adebayo, in a reaction said the appellate court dismissed all six applications filed by parties to the dispute.
Adewole explained that the judgment rested on two grounds: that the high court decision contradicted a binding Supreme Court ruling, and that it wrongly recognised an expelled member.
“Today, the Court of Appeal set aside the Federal High Court judgment which Gabam was using to compel INEC to recognise him as National Chairman,” Adebayo said.
He added that the court also validated Dr Francis Ajala as the SDP governorship candidate in Osun State, faulting the Federal High Court for entertaining a rival claim by Salahu.
Adebayo described the verdict as the final closure to months of legal tussle that had distracted the party ahead of 2027.
“The judiciary has done very well for Nigeria and has guided INEC very well. This matter is over and settled,” he added.
He further stated that with the dispute resolved, the SDP would now focus on defeating the APC government in the next general elections.
SDP National Chairman, Prof Sadiq Gombe, also hailed the judiciary for the expeditious handling of the case within four to five days.
Gombe called on INEC to respect the internal decisions of all 22 registered political parties, particularly on candidate selection.