The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognised Prof Sadiq Umar Gombe as the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), replacing former chairman Shehu Gabam, who was earlier expelled by the party.
The development signals a major shift in the prolonged leadership tussle that has unsettled the opposition party for months.
The SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, announced the decision in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, explaining that the electoral commission updated its records in line with a Supreme Court judgment.
A separate check by our correspondent confirmed that Gombe’s name now appears on INEC’s portal as the party’s recognised national chairman.
According to Aiyenigba, the commission removed Gabam’s name and those of other expelled members from its records on June 17.
The statement read, “INEC on Wednesday bowed to the autonomy of the Social Democratic Party by implementing the ruling of the Supreme Court by uploading the name of Prof Sadiq Gombe to replace the expelled former national chairman, Shehu Gabam, who was previously recognised by the commission on account of an earlier Court of Appeal judgment.
“Having finally overcome and laid to rest the externally induced leadership crisis, the party now stands on a strong pedestal of sustainable stability to be strongly positioned for the 2027 general elections, with its very popular Presidential Candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, whom Nigerians comfortably relate with as possessing the requisite capacity and competence to take the country out of the woods.”
Aiyenigba praised the electoral body for what he described as its commitment to legal principles and compliance with court decisions.
“The decision of INEC to respect the rule of law and judicial authorities, particularly in this instance, is widely commended by not a few Nigerians, especially within the ranks of the SDP faithful nationwide,” he added.
He further argued that the commission’s latest action aligns with the Supreme Court’s position regarding the autonomy of political parties.
He said, “It is pertinent to note that this new stance of INEC to recognise and respect the autonomy of the SDP to choose its leadership and discipline and conduct its internal affairs solely in accordance with its constitution as moderated by the constitution of Nigeria and the Electoral Act 2026, is in line with the express guardian of the Supreme Court, that neither the courts nor INEC has authority or power to interfere in the internal affairs of political parties.
“We expect that INEC will use this moment to turn a new leaf and work cooperatively and respectfully with not only the SDP, but all political parties, in a manner that will show that the word ‘independent’, which is the first name of INEC, is not a hollow term.”
The SDP also reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with democratic institutions and citizens in efforts to deepen democracy and tackle Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
The leadership dispute within the party had escalated in recent months as rival camps battled for control of the SDP’s national structure.
Although Gabam continued to enjoy recognition based on an earlier Court of Appeal ruling, party officials insisted that subsequent judicial decisions, culminating in a Supreme Court judgment, confirmed the SDP’s authority to determine its leadership and enforce disciplinary actions under its constitution.
Meanwhile, Gombe expressed optimism about the party’s position in an ongoing legal matter linked to the leadership crisis.
Speaking with journalists after proceedings at a Magistrate Court in Abuja on Wednesday, he commented on the case after the court adjourned hearing until July 28, 2026.
The adjournment followed the absence of banking documents expected to be tendered as evidence.
Gombe explained that the delay resulted from the inability of the bank involved to provide a required statement within the timeframe needed by the prosecution.
According to him, attempts were first made to secure the document directly from the financial institution before resorting to legal measures.
“We approached the court registry to secure a subpoena directing the bank to produce the statement,” he said.
He noted that the bank informed the court that the records were extensive and could only be released after approval from its headquarters and completion of certification procedures.
As a result, the prosecution sought additional time to obtain the documents, prompting the court to postpone the matter until July 28.
Addressing the SDP’s internal crisis, Gombe maintained that all disciplinary actions taken against affected members complied with the party’s constitution and applicable laws.
He stated that both the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee approved the decisions before they were communicated to INEC.
“The party followed due process in handling the matter,” he said, adding that the SDP remained focused on its activities despite the ongoing legal proceedings.
“The SDP remains focused on its activities despite the ongoing legal proceedings. We are confident that the court process will provide clarity on the issues in contention, and the party will continue to operate in line with its constitution and the law,” he added.A