Supreme Court dismisses Gabam’s appeal, confirms Gombe as SDP chair

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal filed by Shehu Gabam in the leadership dispute rocking the Social Democratic Party, effectively affirming the position of Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe as the party’s National Chairman.

The five-member panel, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, also comprising Justices Haruna Tsammani, A.A. Adumein, Jonah Adah and Joseph Oyewole, dismissed the appeal on the grounds that it had become irrelevant.

The judgment brings another chapter to the prolonged legal dispute over the leadership of the SDP, which had passed through the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal before reaching the apex court.

Reacting to the judgment, the SDP presidential candidate and counsel to the party, Prince Adewole Adebayo, said the appeal filed by Gabam had no life, adding that the development had effectively brought an end to the former chairman’s claim to the party’s leadership.

He said, “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 Gabam had already been removed from the party and had not challenged his removal, explaining that the original suit was instituted by another party member seeking recognition for Gabam.

He said the SDP subsequently approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the Federal High Court judgment and secured an order setting it aside.

We argued the case that the Court of Appeal should correct that judge, and the Court of Appeal set aside the judgment.”

The development comes as the SDP seeks to consolidate its leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections, amid legal disputes involving the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Adebayo, however, said two other cases involving the SDP and INEC remained before the Supreme Court.

According to him, the cases concern INEC’s timetable for political parties, particularly what the SDP considers a shortening of the statutory periods available for the nomination and substitution of candidates.

He said the suits were not instituted because the party was unable to comply with INEC’s timetable but to obtain judicial clarification on the electoral commission’s powers and ensure that it operated within the law.

“The reason we brought the case to court is not that we, particularly SDP, are not able to cope with the timetable. It is to limit the abuse of the electoral process by INEC.”

Adebayo maintained that the electoral commission must exercise its powers within the limits prescribed by law.

Also reacting, the SDP National Chairman, Prof Sadiq Gombe, described the Supreme Court judgment as a victory for the party and democracy.
Gombe said the leadership dispute had passed through several stages of litigation before eventually reaching the apex court.

He said, “This is a victory not only for the SDP, but a victory for democracy.”

The chairman said the party’s repeated appearances before the courts should be viewed within the broader context of its commitment to democratic governance rather than merely as attempts to defend its organisational interests.

“Whenever you see the SDP in any of the courts, either the Federal, the Court of Appeal, or here (apex court), we are always here in defence of democracy, not just in defence of SDP as a party.”