One Person cannot hijack SDP – Gombe Camp

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Celebrates Supreme Court Verdict, Pressures INEC

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By Henry Umoru

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ABUJA- THE National Working Committee, NWC of Professor Abubakar Sadiq Gombe led Social Democratic Party, SDP has declared victory following Friday’s Supreme Court judgment, insisting the ruling has stripped all legal backing from attempts to challenge the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and disciplinary decisions.

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Speaking with Journalists on Friday, Gombe streseed that the apex court had effectively reaffirmed the authority of the SDP leadership under his faction while dismissing contrary interpretations circulating online.

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Flanked by the National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, Senator Ugochukwu Uba, others, the SDP chairman explained that the judgment demolished earlier Court of Appeal pronouncements touching on the party’s internal affairs and leadership structure, particularly issues linked to Shehu Musa Gabam.

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Gombe said, “We represented the party physically at the Supreme Court. We have already applied for the Certified True Copy of the judgment. Journalists can independently verify what transpired.”

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Warning rival forces within the party, he insisted no individual could override the authority of party institutions, Gombe said, “We are talking about an institution, not individuals. One person cannot override the structure of the party.”

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The Gombe camp also intensified pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC demanding immediate recognition of the party’s decisions concerning Gabam’s suspension and eventual expulsion.

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Gombe who noted that the party followed due constitutional process before removing Gabam, including suspension, investigation and an opportunity for defence which he allegedly ignored, said, “The NEC, which is the highest organ of the party after convention, ratified his expulsion. He refused to appear before the disciplinary committee and never appealed within the constitutional timeframe.”

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Stressing that the Supreme Court ruling reinforced the long-standing legal principle that internal party disputes remain matters for political parties themselves, Gombe said, “The Supreme Court has again made it clear that issues concerning internal party affairs are within the jurisdiction of the party.”

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On his part, Agunloye who accused the electoral body of sidelining official correspondence sent by the SDP regarding the disciplinary measures against Gabam, said, “The chairman of INEC admitted no correspondence on Gabam’s suspension or expulsion was brought before him, yet we have acknowledged copies showing those documents were submitted.”

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The National Secretary who noted that the crisis was being falsely portrayed as a struggle for control of the party rather than a disciplinary matter, said, “What we are having in SDP is not a leadership tussle. A member committed infractions, the party disciplined him, and that action was ratified by party organs!”

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Also speaking, Senator Ugochukwu Uba who hailed the verdict, describing it as a victory for institutional democracy within political parties, said, “Political parties must be allowed to enforce discipline within their structures without interference.”

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Friday’s ruling stemmed from six appeals heard by the Supreme Court on May 12, 2026, including Fayemi Tosin Babatunde vs INEC & 4 Ors (SC/CV/229/2026).

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The apex court ruled that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi, thereby nullifying earlier pronouncements made by the Court of Appeal on SDP leadership and the Ekiti governorship primary dispute.

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Despite the celebrations by the Gombe faction, the crisis within the SDP appears not over, with rival camps still awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment to strengthen their competing claims.

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