SDP Floors INEC Again, Court Affirms Party’s Leadership and Electoral Rights
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has secured another emphatic judicial victory over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), cementing its authority to field candidates in forthcoming by-elections and reaffirming its internal leadership structure.
In a landmark ruling delivered on Friday, October 17, 2025, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, led by Justice Banjoko JCA and a panel of judges, upheld the earlier decision of the Federal High Court which had recognised the party’s Acting National Chairman, Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar (Gombe), and National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, as the legitimate signatories and representatives of the party.
The appellate court’s decision effectively dismissed INEC’s appeal, which sought to invalidate letters and communications signed by the two officials on the grounds that internal suspensions within the party had rendered them ineligible to act.
INEC’s stance had previously led to the exclusion of SDP candidates from the by-election nomination process — a move the courts have now deemed unlawful.
“This judgment is a strong affirmation of the party’s constitutional and legal rights,” said SDP National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, moments after the verdict. “The horse is galloping — justice has prevailed again.”
The legal tussle traces back to early 2025 when INEC declined to recognise correspondences from the SDP leadership, insisting that suspended officials could not sign official documents. The party, through its legal team, challenged that interpretation, maintaining that Dr. Abubakar and Dr. Agunloye were duly empowered under the SDP constitution to act on behalf of the party.
The Federal High Court had ruled in SDP’s favour in August 2025, directing INEC to accept and process the party’s nominations. Friday’s judgment at the Court of Appeal not only upheld that verdict but also served as a firm reminder of the limits of INEC’s administrative discretion.
Agunloye, speaking further, accused unnamed officials within the commission of colluding with political interests to destabilise the SDP. “Some people at INEC clearly have connections with certain individuals in our party, which complicated matters. But the courts have now settled the issue in our favour,” he said.
Political analysts say the dual victories — at both the Federal High Court and now the Court of Appeal — mark a turning point for the party as it reorganises ahead of the expected assumption of a substantive national chairman next week.
“This ruling reinforces the independence of political parties and sets a precedent against undue interference by INEC in internal party affairs,” said one legal observer.
For the SDP, the victories not only restore its electoral footing but also send a clear signal that it remains a resilient player in Nigeria’s increasingly competitive political landscape.