By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Shehu Gabam in the prolonged leadership dispute within the Social Democratic Party (SDP), effectively leaving Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe as the party’s National Chairman.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, dismissed the appeal on Wednesday after finding that the case had become irrelevant.
Other members of the panel were Justices Haruna Tsammani, A.A. Adumein, Jonah Adah and Joseph Oyewole.
Reacting to the judgment, SDP presidential candidate and lawyer to the party, Prince Adewole Adebayo, said the ruling had brought the dispute to an end.
“The Supreme Court said that there is no life in the case and dismissed the case. That is the end of Shehu Gabam. There is nothing about the SDP leadership crisis coming up again,” Adebayo said.
Adebayo explained that Gabam was no longer a member of the party and had not personally challenged his removal.
According to him, the case that eventually reached the Supreme Court originated from a suit filed by another SDP member seeking recognition for Gabam.
He said the SDP had challenged the earlier Federal High Court judgment at the Court of Appeal, which subsequently set aside the decision.
“We argued the case that the Court of Appeal should correct that judge, and the Court of Appeal set aside the judgment,” he said.
Gombe, whose position as National Chairman was effectively affirmed by the Supreme Court’s decision, welcomed the ruling and described it as significant for both the party and the democratic process.
“This is a victory not only for the SDP, but a victory for democracy,” Gombe said.
He said the party’s involvement in litigation should not be viewed solely as an attempt to protect its internal interests.
“Whenever you see the SDP in any of the courts, either the Federal, the Court of Appeal, or here (apex court), we are always here in defence of democracy, not just in defence of SDP as a party,” he said.
Meanwhile, Adebayo disclosed that two other cases involving the SDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remain before the Supreme Court.
According to him, the cases concern INEC’s timetable for political parties, particularly the periods provided for candidate nomination and substitution.
He dismissed suggestions that the SDP approached the court because it was unable to meet INEC’s deadlines.
“The reason we brought the case to court is not that we, particularly SDP, are not able to cope with the timetable. It is to limit the abuse of the electoral process by INEC,” Adebayo said.
He maintained that INEC must exercise its powers within the limits prescribed by law.
The Supreme Court’s decision comes as several electoral disputes are being considered by the courts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Earlier on Wednesday, the apex court reserved judgment in a separate dispute between the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and INEC over provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to party membership registers and the conduct of primaries.
Another leadership dispute involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is also pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
ADC member Nafiu-Bala Gombe is challenging the process through which former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola emerged as leaders of the party.
That case has been adjourned until September 28.
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