The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday delivered a major legal blow to Shehu Gabam by setting aside the Federal High Court judgment that recognised him as the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel comprising Justices Fadawu Umaru, M.S. Hassan and L.A. Ganiyu, the appellate court declared the judgment of Justice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026 null and void.
Justice Umaru, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the lower court’s decision was fundamentally defective because it contradicted an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court, which had already settled the leadership dispute in favour of the Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe-led executive.
The appeal was filed by the SDP leadership under Gombe, challenging the Federal High Court’s decision that had recognised Gabam as the party’s national chairman.
Beyond the leadership dispute, the appellate court also affirmed the nomination of Dr. Francis Ajala as the SDP governorship candidate for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
Speaking after the judgment, the party’s presidential candidate and lead counsel to the appellants, Prince Adewole Adebayo, described the verdict as a comprehensive legal victory, noting that the court ruled in favour of the appellants in all six applications before it.
According to Adebayo, the Court of Appeal held that the Federal High Court had no legal basis to recognise Gabam because the Supreme Court had already delivered a binding judgment on May 22, 2026, affirming the legitimacy of the Gombe-led leadership.
He further explained that the appellate court also found that the Federal High Court acted without jurisdiction by entertaining the suit challenging Ajala’s nomination, thereby validating the party’s choice of candidate for the Osun governorship contest.
Describing the ruling as the final chapter in the internal crisis that had divided the party, Adebayo commended the judiciary for providing clarity not only to party members but also to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The judiciary has done very well for Nigeria and has guided INEC very well,” he said, expressing confidence that the judgment had finally laid the leadership dispute to rest.
Reacting to the decision, SDP National Chairman, Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe, applauded the judiciary for the speedy resolution of the case, saying the verdict had strengthened internal democracy within political parties.
He urged INEC to respect the constitutional rights of registered political parties to manage their internal affairs, particularly in matters relating to leadership and candidate selection.
Gombe also commended Adebayo for leading the party’s legal battle and thanked the judiciary for what he described as its commitment to deepening Nigeria’s democratic process.
The SDP has been embroiled in months of internal leadership disputes that triggered multiple court cases over the party’s national leadership and the validity of decisions taken by rival factions.
The conflict also spilled into the party’s preparations for key elections, including the Osun governorship poll, with competing claims over candidate nominations and party authority.
