SDP Presidential Candidate Hails Supreme Court Verdict, Says Ruling Ends Party’s Leadership Crisis

Prince Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), announced on Wednesday that the party's leadership crisis has come to an end following the Supreme Court's dismissal of a legal challenge. Adebayo stated that the decision effectively brought to an end the prolonged leadership dispute within the opposition party.

The Supreme Court had dismissed Shehu Gabam's appeal, which was set aside by the Court of Appeal after it rejected a Federal High Court decision recognizing Gabam as the national chairman of the SDP. Justice Adamu Jauro, leading a five-member panel, ruled that the appeal had become irrelevant and dismissed it accordingly. Adebayo welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, emphasizing that it marks the end of the leadership controversy and allows Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe to continue steering the affairs of the SDP.

The party also has two other matters pending before the Supreme Court, one involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the timetable for the 2027 general election. Adebayo argued that INEC's role is to serve democracy and should not become an instrument used by the ruling party to restrict opposition parties' activities.