Supreme Court Restores Gombe–led SDP Leadership, Validates Ekiti Primary

The Supreme Court has affirmed the Professor Sadiq Gombe led leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and set aside earlier Court of Appeal judgments on the party’s Ekiti governorship primary, ending a prolonged internal crisis.

The apex court’s ruling restores Gombe as National Chairman and validates the primary that produced Ambassador Isaac Adebayo Alade as SDP’s candidate for the June 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Addressing journalists in Abuja after the judgment, Professor Gombe described the decision as a victory for constitutional democracy, internal party discipline, and the rule of law.

He said the court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, upheld the Federal High Court’s earlier decision and dismissed the basis on which the Court of Appeal interfered in the party’s affairs.

According to Gombe, the lead suit, _Mbabutende v. INEC & 4 Others_, and five related appeals were resolved after the Supreme Court held that the plaintiff lacked legal standing to institute the matter.

The court found that the plaintiff had not participated as an aspirant in the primary election and therefore had no locus standi to challenge the process.

“The court further ruled that the Court of Appeal acted wrongly when it invalidated the Ekiti governorship primary election that produced Ambassador Isaac Adebayo Alade as the SDP candidate for the June 2026 governorship election,” Gombe said.

He noted that the judgment reaffirmed the principle that political parties are independent entities empowered to manage their internal affairs, including leadership and candidate selection processes.

The Supreme Court also faulted the appellate court for making pronouncements on the leadership structure of the SDP, stressing that such matters fall within the party’s constitutional powers.

Gombe maintained that disciplinary measures against former National Chairman Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam followed due process, including suspension, investigation, fair hearing, and expulsion ratified by the National Executive Committee.

He accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of acting on a court order that, according to the party, did not validly exist in the form presented to the public, and urged INEC to comply immediately with the Supreme Court ruling.

Also speaking, National Secretary Dr. Olu Agunloye said the March 9 NEC meeting that ratified the disciplinary actions was properly convened and backed by documentary evidence and certified records. He commended the judiciary for courage and fidelity to justice, saying the ruling would strengthen internal democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.