The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on 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 no lower court decision can override a subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP said its attention had been drawn to a July 9, 2026 letter submitted to INEC by Messrs White Chambers & Co. on behalf of Gabam, forwarding the judgment delivered in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026 between Salawu Adeniyi Mustapha Adeoti v. Independent National Electoral Commission & 3 Others.
The party argued that the judgment cannot stand as the legal foundation upon which it was based had already been nullified by the Supreme Court. It added that the Federal High Court decision has since been appealed and is currently pending before the Court of Appeal.
According to the SDP, the plaintiff in the case was neither its governorship candidate in Osun State nor a participant in the party’s governorship primary, insisting that Dr. Ajala remains its duly nominated candidate.
The party further maintained that the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that courts lack jurisdiction over the internal leadership of political parties, including disputes concerning the offices of National Chairman and National Secretary.
It also contended that the Federal High Court judgment did not direct INEC to recognise Gabam as National Chairman or Ogbonna Okechukwu as National Secretary.
The SDP explained that the judgment relied on an earlier Court of Appeal decision in Fayemi Tosin Babatunde v. INEC & 4 Others, which the Supreme Court had already set aside on May 22, 2026—more than a month before the Federal High Court delivered its ruling.
It noted that while INEC had complied with the Court of Appeal judgment before it was overturned, there is now no valid appellate decision upon which the High Court could rely.
The party therefore urged INEC to retain the current SDP leadership pending the outcome of the appeal, warning that acting on the Federal High Court judgment would effectively revive a Court of Appeal decision already declared void by the Supreme Court.
The SDP accused Gabam of actions capable of undermining democratic principles, stressing that the party belongs to Nigerians and not to any individual.
Reaffirming the supremacy of the apex court, the party stated that Supreme Court judgments are final and binding on all lower courts.
The statement also cited the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 9, 2026, as marking a return to constitutional governance after what it described as years of one-man rule under Gabam.
According to the SDP, it has successfully nominated and uploaded the details of its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, and vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Usman Bugaje, to INEC, while the upload of candidates who emerged from its nationwide primaries is ongoing.
The party said it has now shifted its attention to strengthening its national and state structures, expanding membership, promoting internal democracy and accountability, and positioning itself for victory in the 2027 general elections.
It added that it has moved beyond the leadership dispute and remains committed to offering Nigerians a credible political alternative while contributing to democratic consolidation and national development.