Court of Appeal Nullifies Gabam's SDP Chairmanship Claim

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the Federal High Court's judgment that recognized Shehu Gabam as the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). A three-member panel, including Justices Fadawu Umaru, M.S.

Hassan, and L.A. Ganiyu, delivered a unanimous ruling on Wednesday.

Justice Fadawu Umaru declared the earlier judgment by Justice M.G. Umar in Suit No.

FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026 null and void, following an appeal by the SDP leadership under Prof Abubakar Sadiq Gombe. The Court of Appeal noted that the Federal High Court's ruling was based on faulty premises and contradicted a Supreme Court decision favoring Sadiq's leadership.

Prince Adewole Adebayo, the SDP presidential candidate and counsel for the appellants, stated that the Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the SDP in all six applications considered. The court also affirmed Dr. Francis Ajala's nomination as the SDP governorship candidate in Osun State, rejecting claims by Salahu, who asserted he was the SDP candidate for Gabam.