Supreme Court Dismisses Gabam Appeal, SDP Says Leadership Dispute is Over

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal arising from the leadership dispute in the Social Democratic Party, SDP, bringing the latest legal challenge over Shehu Gabam’s claim to the party’s national chairmanship to an end.

The five-member panel, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, dismissed the appeal on Wednesday after holding that there was no longer a live issue requiring the court’s consideration.

The judgment followed an August decision by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which set aside a Federal High Court ruling that had recognised Gabam as the SDP’s national chairman.

The latest ruling does not mean the Supreme Court directly appointed or elected Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe as SDP national chairman. Rather, it leaves standing the Court of Appeal’s decision that overturned the Federal High Court judgment recognising Gabam.

Reacting to the judgment, SDP presidential candidate and counsel to the party, Prince Adewole Adebayo, said the ruling effectively ended Gabam’s legal challenge to the party’s leadership.

“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 also said Gabam had been removed from the party and had not personally challenged his removal. He explained that the original court action was filed by another party member seeking recognition for Gabam.

The leadership dispute intensified after a Federal High Court judgment directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise Gabam as national chairman.

The SDP leadership under Gombe challenged that decision at the Court of Appeal, which later set it aside.

The subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court has now been dismissed.

Gombe welcomed the Supreme Court decision, describing it as a victory for the party and democracy.

The SDP will therefore continue under the leadership structure led by Gombe, while the legal challenge over Gabam’s claim has been brought to a close by the dismissal of the appeal.

SDP’s separate case against INEC

Adebayo said the resolution of the leadership dispute does not end the SDP’s legal activities. He disclosed that the party has separate matters before the Supreme Court involving INEC and the 2027 electoral timetable.

He said the party’s challenge is not simply about the timetable but about what he described as the need to ensure that INEC exercises its powers within the limits of the law.

“The reason we brought the case to court is not because we particularly, SDP, [are concerned] with the 2027 election modified timetable. It is to limit the abuse of the electoral process by INEC,” Adebayo said.

He added that the commission’s role should be to serve democracy and operate within the law.

With the Gabam appeal now dismissed, the SDP leadership dispute has reached the latest and final stage of this particular litigation, while the party’s separate cases involving INEC remain pending.