The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally recognised the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) led by Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, effectively ending the party's prolonged leadership crisis. The commission updated its official website to reflect this development, listing the party's leadership structure with a bold inscription, "By Court Order," preceding the names of executive members, except that of the National Secretary.
Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam is listed as National Chairman, while Dr. Olu Agunloye appears as National Secretary. Other members of the NWC, as published on INEC's website, include National Treasurer, Hajia Maggie Mariam, and National Legal Adviser, Barrister Aderemi Abimbola.
Background of the Leadership Tussle
About four weeks ago, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, affirmed Shehu Gabam as the authentic National Chairman of the party. In a unanimous judgment delivered on March 27, 2026, a three-member panel of justices ruled on an appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/126/2026, filed by an aggrieved party member, Fayemi Tosin Babatunde.
According to the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, the appellant challenged the validity of the Ekiti State governorship primary, arguing that the party leadership that conducted the exercise lacked legitimacy and the legal authority to constitute an electoral committee. The appellant specifically faulted the National Working Committee led by Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe and Dr. Olu Agunloye, describing it as illegally constituted and in violation of the party's constitution and the Electoral Act. He also sought an order restraining INEC from recognising candidates produced by the disputed leadership.
Earlier Ruling and Appeal Outcome
The case was initially dismissed by the Federal High Court in Abuja on January 19, 2026, with Justice Emeka Nwite affirming Dr. Gombe as the party's authentic chairman and upholding the legality of the party's processes. However, on appeal, the appellate court partially overturned the lower court's decision, holding that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to make pronouncements on the SDP leadership tussle.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, alongside Justices Abba Bello Mohammed and Oyejoju Oyebiola Oyewumi, ruled that any findings made without jurisdiction were null and void. "The appeal succeeds in part," the court held, affirming only that the appellant was not an aspirant in the disputed primary. The court subsequently set aside the Federal High Court's pronouncement recognising Dr. Gombe as the authentic leader of the party, as well as its validation of the November 8, 2025 primary election.
INEC's Monitoring Report
Despite nullifying those aspects, the appellate court relied on INEC's monitoring report (Exhibit INEC 3), which confirmed that the primary election was conducted with valid delegates and produced a clear winner, Engr. Bankole David Oludele. This recognition by INEC now paves the way for the Gabam-led NWC to steer the party's affairs ahead of the 2027 general elections.
