Appeal Court Voids Judgment Recognising Gabam As SDP Chairman

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday overturned the decision of the Federal High Court which previously acknowledged Alhaji Shehu Gabam as the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

A unanimous verdict was delivered by a three-member appellate panel consisting of Justices Fadawu Umaru, M.S. Hassan, and L.A. Ganiyu.

Within the primary ruling, Justice Umaru pronounced the verdict rendered by Justice M.G. Umar at the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026 as completely null, void, and of no effect.

The appellate intervention came on the heels of an appeal lodged by the SDP faction loyal to Prof. Abubakar Gombe, challenging the earlier high court ruling that upheld Gabam’s leadership position.

The appellate court ruled that the foundation of the Federal High Court’s decision was legally flawed.

The panel highlighted that the Supreme Court had previously addressed the same dispute and ruled in support of Gombe’s leadership faction.

Addressing the press following the ruling, SDP presidential standard-bearer and legal representative for the appellants, Prince Adewole Adebayo, announced that the appellate court unanimously decided in favor of the party across all six motions reviewed.

Adebayo stated that the court invalidated the high court ruling favoring Gabam because it directly conflicted with a prior Supreme Court ruling issued on May 22.

He noted that the court of appeal additionally validated the candidacy of Dr Francis Ajala as the official SDP flagbearer for the upcoming Osun gubernatorial contest.

Adebayo maintained that the ruling successfully draws the curtain on the protracted legal tussle concerning the national leadership of the political platform.

He praised the judicial system for settling the controversy and offering precise guidance to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The judiciary has done very well for Nigeria and has guided INEC very well,” he said.

Adebayo expressed optimism that the judicial outcome definitively closes the chapter on internal factional disputes within the SDP.

In his remarks, SDP National Chairman Prof. Gombe lauded the judiciary for dispensing justice with promptness.

Gombe called upon INEC to honor the autonomy of all registered political formations, particularly regarding their internal choices concerning candidate nominations.

He further commended Adebayo for successfully steering the party’s legal representation and thanked the judiciary for upholding democratic integrity.

Gombe expressed gratitude to media practitioners for their steadfast reporting throughout the extended crisis.

He encouraged media professionals to persist in educating the electorate to foster transparent, fair, and trustworthy general elections in 2027.