The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe as National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), ending a leadership dispute that had threatened to disrupt the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a unanimous ruling delivered on Wednesday, a three-member panel led by Justice Fadawu Umaru voided a Federal High Court judgment that had recognised expelled member Shehu Gabam as SDP chairman.
The panel, which included Justices M.S. Hassan and L.A. Ganiyu, declared Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026 a nullity.
The appeal was filed by the Gombe-led SDP leadership against the Federal High Court ruling that sought to restore Gabam to office despite his expulsion from the party.
Justice Umaru held that the Federal High Court erred in law by entertaining the matter because the Supreme Court had already resolved the leadership dispute in favour of Gombe’s faction on May 22, 2026.
Speaking after the judgment, SDP presidential candidate and lead counsel, Prince Adewole Adebayo, said the appellate court dismissed all six applications filed by parties involved in the dispute.
Adebayo said; “the judgment was based on two grounds: that the Federal High Court ruling conflicted with a binding Supreme Court decision and wrongly recognised an expelled party 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 said that the Court of Appeal also validated Dr Francis Ajala as the SDP governorship candidate in Osun State, saying “the appellate court faulted the Federal High Court for entertaining a rival claim by Salahu.”
Adebayo described the ruling as the final resolution of months of litigation that had distracted the party as it prepares for the 2027 elections.
“The judiciary has done very well for Nigeria and has guided INEC very well. This matter is over and settled,” he said.
Adebayo added that the SDP would now concentrate on its political campaign and its ambition to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections.
Gombe also welcomed the judgment, commending the judiciary for resolving the case within four to five days.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to respect the internal decisions of all 22 registered political parties, particularly on candidate selection.
The SDP chairman thanked the media for what he described as “objective coverage during the leadership dispute.”
He urged Nigerians to expect a united SDP as the party prepares for the 2027 elections and seeks to strengthen its political challenge to the APC.
