INEC Recognises Gabam-Led SDP After Court of Appeal Ruling

INEC has formally recognised the Shehu Gabam-led National Working Committee of the Social Democratic Party, ending months of uncertainty over who controls the opposition party. The electoral body updated its website this week, listing Gabam as National Chairman with a “By Court Order” label beside each executive member’s name except the National Secretary.

Dr. Olu Agunloye was listed as National Secretary, while Hajia Maggie Mariam appears as National Treasurer and Aderemi Abimbola as National Legal Adviser. The “By Court Order” inscription signals that INEC’s recognition stems directly from judicial intervention rather than internal party processes.

Court of Appeal ruling settles leadership dispute

The recognition follows a unanimous Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 27, 2026, by a three-member panel comprising Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, Justice Abba Bello Mohammed, and Justice Oyejoju Oyebiola Oyewumi. The ruling came on appeal CA/ABJ/CV/126/2026, filed by party member Fayemi Tosin Babatunde, who challenged the validity of the Ekiti State governorship primary.

The appellant had argued that the NWC led by Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe was illegally constituted and lacked authority to conduct primaries. A Federal High Court in Abuja had initially sided with Gombe on January 19, 2026, with Justice Emeka Nwite ruling he was the authentic chairman. The appellate court overturned that pronouncement, holding that the lower court never had jurisdiction to make leadership determinations in the first place.

What the ruling actually changed

“The appeal succeeds in part,” the court held, affirming only that Babatunde was not an aspirant in the disputed primary. It set aside the Federal High Court’s recognition of Gombe as chairman and its validation of the November 8, 2025 primary. However, relying on INEC’s own monitoring report (Exhibit INEC 3), the court confirmed that the primary was conducted with valid delegates and produced a clear winner, Engr. Bankole David Oludele.

The SDP leadership tussle has dragged on for months, distracting the party from building momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections. With INEC now reflecting the Gabam-led structure on its website, the party can formally organise and present candidates without the cloud of a legitimacy crisis hanging over its operations.

*Sources: ThisDay Live, Naija News, City Post*