By Clement John
ABUJA — The faction of the Social Democratic Party led by Professor Abubakar Sadiq Gombe has declared victory following Friday’s Supreme Court judgment, insisting that the ruling reaffirmed the authority of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and invalidated attempts to challenge its disciplinary actions.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday, Gombe said the apex court’s decision had removed every legal basis previously used to contest the party’s internal decisions and leadership structure.
Flanked by the party’s National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, Senator Ugochukwu Uba and other party officials, Gombe maintained that the judgment overturned earlier Court of Appeal pronouncements relating to the party’s internal affairs and issues surrounding former National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam.
“We represented the party physically at the Supreme Court. We have already applied for the Certified True Copy of the judgment. Journalists can independently verify what transpired,” Gombe said.
He warned against attempts by any individual to dominate the party, stressing that the SDP remained an institution governed by constitutional processes.
“We are talking about an institution, not individuals. One person cannot override the structure of the party,” he stated.
The Gombe-led faction also intensified pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately recognise the party’s decisions concerning Gabam’s suspension and expulsion.
According to Gombe, the party followed due process before removing Gabam, including suspension, investigation and an opportunity for defence, which he claimed was ignored.
“The NEC, which is the highest organ of the party after convention, ratified his expulsion.
He refused to appear before the disciplinary committee and never appealed within the constitutional timeframe,” he said.
Gombe further argued that the Supreme Court ruling reinforced the legal principle that internal disputes within political parties should be resolved by party organs rather than the courts.
“The Supreme Court has again made it clear that issues concerning internal party affairs are within the jurisdiction of the party,” he added.
On his part, Agunloye accused INEC of failing to act on official correspondence sent by the SDP regarding the disciplinary measures taken against Gabam.
“The chairman of INEC admitted no correspondence on Gabam’s suspension or expulsion was brought before him, yet we have acknowledged copies showing those documents were submitted,” he alleged.
Agunloye also dismissed claims that the crisis was a leadership struggle, insisting it was purely a disciplinary matter.
“What we are having in SDP is not a leadership tussle. A member committed infractions, the party disciplined him, and that action was ratified by party organs,” he said.
Also speaking, Senator Ugochukwu Uba described the verdict as a victory for institutional democracy within political parties.
“Political parties must be allowed to enforce discipline within their structures without interference,” he said.
The Supreme Court ruling arose from six appeals heard on May 12, 2026, including Fayemi Tosin Babatunde vs INEC & 4 Ors (SC/CV/229/2026).
The apex court held that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to institute the suits, thereby nullifying earlier Court of Appeal pronouncements relating to SDP leadership and the Ekiti governorship primary dispute.
Despite the celebrations by the Gombe faction, the leadership crisis within the SDP appears unresolved, as rival camps are still awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment to support their competing claims.
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