Breaking News: Supreme Court Upholds Court of Appeal Ruling, Affirms Gabam as SDP National Chairman

From: Abdullahi Idris 

Abuja, The Supreme Court of Nigeria has delivered a unanimous judgment today, 22 May 2026, reaffirming Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam as the legally recognized National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP. In its decision, the apex court faulted the Federal High Court judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2497/2025, which the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, relied on to recognize one Sadiq Umar Gombe as chairman of the party. The Supreme Court held that the Federal High Court ought not to have entertained the matter in the first instance, as it constituted a purely internal affair of a political party.

The court declared that the Federal High Court judgment, which INEC acted upon, was fundamentally flawed and should be set aside. It further noted that the same judgment had earlier been nullified by the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CS/127/2026 delivered on 27 March 2026, on the grounds that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over internal party matters. The Supreme Court affirmed the position of the appellate court and emphasized that political parties must be allowed to manage their leadership and internal disputes without undue judicial interference.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court stressed that the status of party leadership must be determined as at the time the disputed suit was filed. It observed that Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam was the duly recognized National Chairman of the SDP before the Federal High Court suit was instituted. Consequently, the court held that the person who occupied the position of chairman at that time, and whom INEC had disregarded in favor of Sadiq Gombe, remains the lawful chairman of the party.

The judgment effectively restores the leadership position held by Gabam prior to the legal controversy and invalidates any action taken by INEC based on the overturned Federal High Court decision. The Supreme Court made it clear that the SDP’s internal processes, as they stood before the suit, remain the valid basis for determining its leadership. This pronouncement brings to an end the period of uncertainty that followed the conflicting interpretations by the lower courts.

Reacting to the judgment, party stakeholders described it as a victory for due process, internal democracy, and the rule of law within political parties. They noted that the Supreme Court’s decision reinforces the principle that courts should not intervene in the internal affairs of political parties except where constitutional provisions have been breached. The ruling is expected to stabilize the SDP’s leadership structure and enable the party to refocus on its political activities ahead of future elections.

By the judgment of the Supreme Court, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam has been, remains, and continues to be the legally recognized National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party. The decision puts to rest all claims to the contrary and restores full recognition to the leadership structure that existed prior to the commencement of Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2497/2025. The SDP is now expected to consolidate under Gabam’s leadership as it prepares for its next phase of political engagement.