Leadership Tussle: Stop Distorting S’Court Judgement, Social Democratic Party Chairmen Warn

The Forum of State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has warned some members of the party against peddling misinformation on the outcome of the recent Supreme Court judgment concerning the party.

The party stated that the recent Supreme Court judgment had nothing to do with SDP’s national leadership structure, legitimacy or authority.

Recall that an acting SDP national chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, had described last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment which threw out INEC’s appeal challenging the leadership of the SDP and awarded N2m costs against the commission.

Gombe, while addressing journalists at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, said the ruling was historic not only for the SDP but for all registered political parties and the country’s electoral system.

But the secretary, Forum of SDP State Chairmen, Hon. Musa Danlami, dismissed what he called the false narrative being circulated by individuals who aim is to create confusion within the party.

Danlami, the Nasarawa State chairman, in a statement, said the Supreme Court adjudication was strictly an electoral issue arising from previously concluded by-elections which merely affirmed the earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal.

He said at no point did the Supreme Court pronounce, validate or even entertain any question relating to SDP leadership hence any attempt by mischief-makers to twist this judgment into a leadership endorsement is a calculated lie and orchestrated deception targeted at the party’s members and the Nigerian public.

“We outrightly condemn the forceful and laughably theatrical invasion of the National Chairman’s office by a self-appointed “kangaroo team.” This brazen act, clearly encouraged by external forces, including elements weaponizing security institutions, reflects nothing but a politically sponsored plot by the ruling party to destabilize the SDP from within.

“Legitimacy in the SDP flows only from the party constitution. We call on all genuine party members across Nigeria to remain resolute, vigilant, and unshaken. Do not be distracted by the noise of imposters or the desperate antics of those who seek to hijack what they did not build.

“I has become imperative, indeed unavoidable, to confront, expose, and dismiss the false narrative being circulated by individuals whose sole aim is to create confusion within our great party.

“The Supreme Court judgment has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with SDP’s national leadership structure, legitimacy, or authority.

“The matter adjudicated by the Supreme Court was strictly an electoral issue arising from previously concluded by-elections. It merely affirmed the earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal. At no point did the Supreme Court pronounce on, validate, or even entertain any question relating to SDP leadership.

“We outrightly condemn the forceful and laughably theatrical invasion of the National Chairman’s office by a self-appointed “kangaroo team.” This brazen act, clearly encouraged by external forces, including elements weaponizing security institutions, reflects nothing but a politically sponsored plot by the ruling party to destabilize the SDP from within,”the statement added.