THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally obeyed court verdicts concerning the leadership crisis in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by recognising the Abubakar Sadiq Gombe-led structure, against the rival camp, led by Shehu Musa Gabam.
This followed a high-level meeting between the SDP leaders and the Commission in Abuja, where party officials said INEC acknowledged court decisions affirming the legitimacy of the current leadership and supremacy of the party’s constitution.
This marks a critical moment in the SDP crisis that had led to disciplinary proceedings, legal battles, parallel conventions and rival claims to its leadership ahead of next year’s general elections.
Gombe, speaking after the meeting, expressed confidence that INEC would comply with court judgments and respect the constitutional autonomy of political parties in determining their leadership, noting: “The issue of party leadership is an exclusive reserve of the political party to decide on its leadership.
“The Supreme Court has severally ruled in this respect. It is the party itself that determines who leads it.”
Gombe said the discussions with INEC were cordial and productive, with the Commission saying that relevant court judgments and party documents had only recently been brought to the attention of its leadership.
Recall that the crisis started following disciplinary actions initiated by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) against Gabam and other officials over allegations of misconduct, financial infractions and violations of the SDP Constitution, in accordance with Article 123 of its constitution.
An investigative committee found Gabam and the others culpable and recommended his expulsion, a decision that was later ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its March 9, 2026 meeting.
Gabam did not appealed his expulsion through the internal mechanisms within the constitutional timeframe, but rejected the decision and insisted he remained the legitimate national chairman.
Both camps later organised separate national conventions, with the Gombe emerging as National Chairman from the Bauchi convention, while Gabam was purportedly retuned at a parallel convention in Abuja.
SDP presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general elections, Adewole Adebayo, also emerged as the party’s presidential candidate for the next general elections at the Bauchi convention, which was challenged by the Gombe faction in court.
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