After nearly a year of internal wrangling, court battles and competing claims to authority, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) says it is finally putting its leadership crisis behind it following the restoration of its recognised leadership structure by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The development, party leaders believe, clears a major obstacle to the SDP’s efforts to reposition itself ahead of future political contests and expand its influence in Nigeria’s evolving opposition landscape.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, National Chairman of the party, Professor Sadiq Gombe, described INEC’s action as the final seal on a dispute that had dominated the party’s affairs since June 2025.
According to him, the crisis began after the National Working Committee (NWC) suspended some members over alleged misconduct, a decision that sparked a series of legal challenges and internal disagreements.
Gombe said the party remained committed to constitutional processes throughout the dispute, establishing disciplinary committees to investigate allegations and provide fair hearing to those involved.
He noted that the legal contest eventually produced court rulings affirming the authority of political parties to manage their internal affairs and enforce decisions taken in line with their constitutions.
The SDP chairman explained that after subsequent legal victories and the ratification of key decisions by the National Executive Committee (NEC), INEC restored the names of the recognised party leadership on its official portal, effectively ending the controversy.
He described the outcome as more than a legal victory, saying it reaffirmed the importance of party discipline, institutional processes and respect for democratic norms.
With the leadership question now settled, Gombe said the party’s immediate priority is reconciliation and rebuilding trust among members.
In a conciliatory tone, he invited aggrieved members to return to the fold, insisting that the SDP has no intention of perpetuating divisions that could weaken its political fortunes.
The party leader thanked supporters, stakeholders and the media for their patience during the prolonged crisis, adding that the experience had ultimately strengthened the party’s internal structures.
He expressed confidence that the SDP can now concentrate on national issues, policy engagement and preparations for future elections without the distractions that had previously hampered its activities.
For a party seeking to carve out a stronger role in Nigeria’s political space, the resolution of the leadership crisis marks not only the end of a difficult chapter but also the beginning of a fresh push for relevance and unity.
Abubakar Sadiq Gombe
