SDP denies leadership crisis, says court cases limited to Ekiti, Osun primaries
…backs Gombe as national chair The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dismissed claims of a leadership crisis within its ranks, clarifying that ongoing legal disputes are restricted to party primaries
…backs Gombe as national chair
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dismissed claims of a leadership crisis within its ranks, clarifying that ongoing legal disputes are restricted to party primaries in Ekiti and Osun states.
In a statement issued on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba, refuted speculations that one Gabam had emerged as the national chairman following a Court of Appeal judgment.
He maintained that no court has removed Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe as the party’s National Chairman, noting that his position remains affirmed by the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Aiyenigba further explained that there are no court cases concerning the leadership of the party, stressing that existing suits relate solely to disputes arising from recent primaries in Ekiti and Osun states, filed by aggrieved aspirants.
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He cited the suit marked CA/ABJ/CV/126/2026, filed by Ekiti SDP aspirant, Babatunde Tosin Fayemi, adding that the judgment delivered by Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike of the Court of Appeal on March 27, 2026, focused entirely on the Ekiti primaries and not on the party’s leadership.
“The former Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, is not part of the suit and was not mentioned once in the suit or in the judgment. Nowhere in the judgment was the expelled Chairman referred to as SDP Chairman. What the judgment simply stated is that the Trial Court ought not to have delved into leadership matter in a pre-election matter.”
He asserted that “The SDP will not join issues with an expelled member, more so, considering that Shehu Musa Gabam is facing criminal proceedings for his misappropriation of our party's funds and for gross abuse of office.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party assures all member, stakeholders across the country and the general public, that they need not bother with the development or be worried, as the party remains stable and strongly on course.”
