The long-running leadership battle tearing at the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has suffered a decisive judicial blow, with the Court of Appeal in Abuja unanimously setting aside the Federal High Court judgment relied upon by the party’s expelled former National Chairman, Shehu Gabam.
The appellate court’s three-member panel, comprising Justice Muslim Sule Hassan (M.S. Hassan), Justice Lateef Adebayo Ganiyu and Justice Fadawu Umaru, delivered the judgment on Wednesday after a prolonged legal contest over the leadership of the party and the validity of candidates nominated under its platform.
Reacting to the verdict, SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, declared that the judgment had effectively drawn the curtain on the party’s leadership crisis, clearing the way for the SDP to turn its full attention to the 2027 general elections.
Adebayo said the court unanimously resolved six applications in favour of the SDP and also affirmed the party’s position on its candidate for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
According to him, the appellate court found the Federal High Court judgment recognising Gabam and another former member as acting National Secretary to be a nullity because it conflicted with an earlier decision of the Supreme Court delivered on May 22, 2026.
He said the implication was far-reaching: the legal foundation upon which the rival leadership structure had been erected could no longer stand.
Adebayo also said the Court of Appeal rejected the basis for challenging the SDP’s nomination of Dr Francis Ajala as its governorship candidate in Osun State.
For the SDP candidate, the judgment went beyond the fortunes of one political party.
«“The judiciary has done very well for Nigeria and has guided INEC very well,” Adebayo said.»
He said the party had spent months battling through the courts to defend decisions taken within its own structures, but insisted that the chapter had now been closed.
“The leadership dispute is over and settled,” he said, declaring that the SDP’s attention would now shift to the 2027 contest and its campaign against what he described as the “calamitous government” of President Bola Tinubu.
‘It’s better late than never’
Adebayo also revealed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had commenced preparations to reproduce ballot papers to accommodate the SDP’s candidate.
But while welcoming the development, he accused the electoral body of moving too slowly and argued that the delay had cost the party valuable campaign time, including opportunities to participate in debates and engage voters.
«“It’s better late than never,” he said.»
He urged INEC to learn from the prolonged dispute and respect decisions made by political parties concerning their internal leadership and candidates.
«“Where we nominate candidates and make our decisions, respect them,” Adebayo said.»
The presidential candidate warned against what he described as external influence on the electoral commission, insisting that the SDP should be allowed to conduct its affairs without interference.
He described the party’s repeated resort to litigation as its “third missionary journey to the judiciary”, expressing hope that Wednesday’s judgment would finally end what he called INEC’s “harassment of SDP.”
Chairman: Verdict bigger than SDP
The SDP National Chairman, Prof Abubakar Sadiq Gombe, described the judgment as a victory not merely for the party but for democratic governance and the rule of law.
Gombe praised the judiciary for the speed with which it resolved the applications and commended Adebayo for leading the party’s legal team.
He said the lawyers had defended not only the SDP but an important principle of democratic politics: the right of political parties to manage their internal affairs.
«“I want to use this opportunity to thank our presidential candidate that led the legal team for the wonderful job they have done to the party, not just to the party but our democracy and our nation,” Gombe said.»
The chairman urged INEC to treat the judgment as a broader reminder that all political parties deserve equal respect.
«“We are not just calling on INEC to respect SDP alone, but to respect all the political parties, the 22 registered political parties, and their internal affairs, their decisions about candidate selection and whatsoever,” he said.»
Gombe also welcomed INEC’s move to reproduce the ballot papers to include the SDP candidate, noting that the process had commenced even before Wednesday’s judgment.
He thanked the media for staying with the party throughout the legal storm and urged journalists to intensify public enlightenment ahead of the 2027 elections.
The chairman said the SDP would continue to work towards free, fair and credible elections, while positioning itself to play a leading role in the 2027 contest.
With the Court of Appeal’s latest pronouncement, the SDP leadership believes the legal battle over its leadership and candidate-selection process has finally reached its terminus.
For Adebayo, however, the courtroom battle was only the prelude.
The next battle, he made clear, is political—and the SDP is preparing for 2027.