A Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in a suit challenging the recognition of Adewole Adebayo as the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Justice Salim Ibrahim reserved judgment on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after counsel to the parties adopted their written addresses and presented arguments. The judgment date will be communicated to the parties.
The suit was filed by the SDP and its National Organising Secretary, Dr Chukwuma Ogbonna, who are asking the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish Hon. Abimbola Akeem Atanda as the party’s candidate.
The plaintiffs said Atanda emerged from the party’s presidential primary and national convention held in Abuja on May 20, 2026, under the leadership of National Chairman Shehu Musa Gabam.
They maintained that INEC monitored the exercise, issued a Certified True Copy of its monitoring report and received Atanda’s particulars for publication.
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However, they alleged that the commission published Adebayo’s name instead, arguing that the decision contradicted the outcome of the monitored exercise and violated the Electoral Act, 2026.
The plaintiffs want the court to nullify Adebayo’s listing, restrain INEC from recognising him as the SDP’s presidential candidate and direct the commission to publish Atanda’s name.
The dispute stems from rival conventions held by competing factions. Adebayo was adopted at a convention in Bauchi on May 9, 2026, while the Gabam-led faction selected Atanda in Abuja on May 20.
The nomination dispute is part of a wider crisis within the SDP that has triggered separate court proceedings over the party’s leadership.
The court has yet to determine the merits of the suit, and its forthcoming judgment will decide whether the reliefs sought against INEC are granted.