By Clement John
ABUJA — The faction of the Social Democratic Party loyal to Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam has declared that the Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership crisis has restored him as the substantive National Chairman of the party.
In a statement issued on Friday by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Barrister Muka’ila Yahaya Mavo, the SDP said the apex court ruled that the appellant lacked the legal standing to institute the suit challenging the party’s leadership.
According to the statement, the Supreme Court held that the appellant “was not an aspirant and lacked the legal competence to institute the action.”
The party also said the apex court reaffirmed the legal principle that courts lack jurisdiction to interfere in the internal leadership affairs of political parties.
The SDP noted that by dismissing and setting aside the judgments of the Federal High Court in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2497/26 and the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CS/127/26, the Supreme Court had effectively invalidated the legal basis upon which the rival faction challenged Gabam’s leadership.
The party explained that before the now-nullified Federal High Court ruling, the Independent National Electoral Commission had recognised Gabam as the National Chairman of the SDP.
It added that although INEC temporarily altered its records in compliance with the court order, Gabam’s name was later restored following the Court of Appeal judgment.
“Now that the Supreme Court has dismissed and nullified the decisions relied upon by the opposing faction, the inevitable legal consequence is that the status quo ante remains fully restored.
In law, one cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand,” the statement said.
The party maintained that the claims of legitimacy by the rival Sadiq-led faction had collapsed following the Supreme Court verdict.
According to the SDP, the apex court had spoken “with finality,” making it clear that the leadership dispute was not justiciable before the lower courts and that the judgments previously used against Gabam no longer had legal effect.
The party insisted that the lawful and constitutionally recognised leadership of the SDP remained the National Working Committee headed by Gabam.
The SDP urged members, stakeholders and supporters to disregard what it described as propaganda and misinformation being circulated by those attempting to create confusion after suffering defeat at the Supreme Court.
It further called on INEC and other relevant institutions to continue recognising and relating with the Gabam-led leadership in line with the party’s constitution and the Supreme Court judgment.
“The era of needless distraction and factional misinformation is over. The judgment of the Supreme Court has restored constitutional order, party supremacy, and legal certainty within the Social Democratic Party,” the statement added.
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