Obey Court Judgment Reinstating Gabam as SDP National Chair – Nigerians Tell INEC

Some concerned Nigerians have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express dissatisfaction over the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) delay in implementing a Federal High Court judgment reinstating Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam as the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

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It will be recalled that on June 24, 2026, a Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a judgment affirming Gabam as the National Chairman of the SDP.

The delay has generated widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians urging INEC to fully comply with the court's decision. They argue that the commission's failure to promptly implement the judgment could undermine public confidence in its impartiality as the nation's electoral umpire.

The concerned citizens contend that the judgment conclusively settled the dispute over the party's national leadership and expect INEC to reflect the court's decision in its official records.

They also questioned why the commission has yet to update its official portal to reflect the judgment, urging INEC to comply strictly with the court's ruling and uphold the rule of law.

Some stakeholders further alleged that undue external influence may have affected INEC's administrative decisions regarding the party's leadership.

The development follows months of intense leadership tussles within the SDP, during which rival factions laid claim to the party's national leadership.

According to party members aligned with Gabam, the crisis began after some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) attempted to suspend and later expel him from office.

They argued that such actions were inconsistent with the provisions of the SDP Constitution, which, they maintain, vests the authority to remove a National Chairman in the National Executive Council (NEC) or the National Convention, rather than the National Working Committee acting alone.

They also contend that the Supreme Court, in an earlier case involving the party, did not determine who should serve as the SDP's National Chairman.

Rather, they said the apex court held that internal party disputes should be resolved in accordance with the party's constitution, thereby leaving the party's constitutional processes to govern its leadership.

They further maintained that the subsequent Federal High Court judgment affirmed Gabam's position under the SDP Constitution and expressed the expectation that INEC would immediately implement the judgment by updating its official records.

Beyond the issue of the national chairmanship, the stakeholders called on INEC to review other aspects of the SDP's official records, including the recognition of party officials and decisions arising from the party's national convention, which they said was monitored by the commission in Abuja.

As of the time of filing this report, INEC had not issued an official statement in response to the latest calls, while representatives of the Gombe-led SDP faction had also not publicly commented on the Federal High Court judgment affirming Gabam's position.

The unfolding developments are expected to shape the internal dynamics of the SDP in the coming days and could have broader implications for preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections, as public scrutiny of INEC's commitment to the rule of law and its role as an independent electoral umpire continues.