FRESH controversy has emerged over the leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), following a Federal High Court judgment affirming Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam as the National Chairman of the party, with renewed calls by Nigerians on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to comply with the court’s decision.
INEC’s delay in obeying the court judgment reinstating Gabam, which has been delivered almost a month ago since June 24, 2026, is now generating ruckus on social media, particularly X (formerly twitter).
Social media commentators argue that the ruling settles the dispute over the party’s national leadership, saying they expect INEC to reflect the court’s decision in its official records.
The development comes after months of intense leadership tussles within the SDP, which resulted in rival factions laying claim to the party’s national leadership.
According to party members aligned with Gabam, the dispute began after efforts by some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to suspend and later expel him from office.
They contend that such actions were inconsistent with the provisions of the SDP Constitution, which they argue vests the authority to remove a National Chairman in the National Executive Council (NEC) or the National Convention, rather than the National Working Committee (NWC) acting alone.
They also maintain that the Supreme Court’s judgment in an earlier case involving the party did not determine the question of who should serve as National Chairman. Rather, they argue that the apex court held that internal party disputes should be resolved in accordance with the party’s constitution, leaving the constitutional processes of the SDP to govern its leadership.
They further contend that the Federal High Court judgment subsequently affirmed the SDP Constitution-backed Gabam’s position and expect INEC to implement the court’s decision by updating its records immediately.
Concerned commentators questioned why INEC has not fully reflected the court’s decision on its official portal and urged the electoral commission to ensure strict compliance with the judgment and to uphold the rule of law.
The stakeholders also alleged that undue external influence may have affected INEC’s administrative decisions relating to the party’s leadership.
Beyond the issue of the national chairmanship, the stakeholders called on INEC to review other aspects of the SDP’s official records, including recognition of party officials and decisions arising from the party’s national convention, as monitored by INEC itself in Abuja.
