The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard a Federal High Court judgment being relied upon by its expelled former National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, insisting that the matter remains before the Court of Appeal.
The party maintained that the judgment cannot serve as the basis for recognising Gabam as its National Chairman, arguing that it was founded on a Court of Appeal decision which had already been set aside by the Supreme Court.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP described Gabam's move to forward the June 24, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026 to INEC as "an exercise in futility."
According to the party, Gabam, through his solicitors, Messrs White Chambers & Co., had written to the electoral commission seeking recognition of his leadership based on the judgment.
The SDP, however, argued that the Supreme Court, in its judgment delivered on May 22, 2026, had nullified the Court of Appeal decision upon which the Federal High Court based its ruling, rendering the lower court's decision incapable of overriding the apex court's pronouncement.
The party further disclosed that the Federal High Court judgment has already been appealed and is currently pending before the Court of Appeal, making it inappropriate for INEC to act on it.
It also noted that the Federal High Court did not issue any order directing INEC to recognise Gabam as National Chairman or Ogbonna Okechukwu as National Secretary of the party.
The SDP maintained that the Supreme Court has consistently held that issues relating to the leadership of political parties are internal affairs over which courts lack jurisdiction.
The party warned INEC against taking any administrative action based on the disputed judgment, stressing that doing so would amount to allowing a lower court to override a binding decision of the Supreme Court.
"The rule of law supersedes the rule of men," the statement read, adding that judgments of the Supreme Court remain final and binding on all persons, authorities and lower courts.
The party also accused Gabam of engaging in actions capable of undermining democratic principles, alleging that his continued efforts to reclaim the party's leadership were driven by desperation.
"It is time for him to realise that the SDP is not his private estate or inheritance but a public institution belonging to Nigerians," the statement added.
The SDP said it had moved beyond the leadership dispute, citing the successful conduct of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on July 9 as evidence that normalcy had returned to the party.
It also announced that it had concluded the nomination of its 2027 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, and vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Usman Bugaje, adding that their names and relevant documents had been uploaded to the appropriate authorities while submission of details of other candidates produced at its primaries was ongoing.
Reaffirming its commitment to the 2027 general elections, the party said it would continue to strengthen its internal structures, expand its membership base and consolidate internal democracy as it positions itself as a credible alternative for governance in Nigeria.
