Gombe Takes SDP Reins as Supreme Court Blasts INEC

The protracted leadership crisis within the Social Democratic Party (SDP) reached a definitive conclusion on Friday as Professor Sadiq Gombe officially assumed the role of acting National Chairman. His ascension followed a landmark Supreme Court ruling that dismissed a long-standing appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The judgment effectively terminates the administrative interference that has shadowed the party’s internal governance for months.

Speaking to a jubilant crowd of supporters at the SDP national headquarters in Abuja, Gombe described the day as a watershed moment for the Nigerian democratic process. He argued that the apex court’s intervention serves as a necessary check on the powers of the electoral umpire. For Gombe, the ruling is less about his personal elevation and more about the preservation of the rule of law within the nation’s multi-party system.

The Supreme Court’s decision, which labeled INEC’s appeal as lacking in merit, aligns with previous verdicts delivered by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. These judicial tiers had consistently upheld Gombe’s leadership, yet the electoral body had remained hesitant to effect the change on its official portal. This hesitance sparked accusations of “meddling” in the private, internal affairs of the political organization.

Professor Gombe was pointed in his critique of the commission, urging the body to prioritize constitutional mandates over administrative convenience. He emphasized that once the National Working Committee (NWC) and the party’s own constitution have spoken, INEC’s role is simply to document and acknowledge, rather than litigate or stall. “The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and the institutions that seek justice,” he remarked.

The transition comes with a series of stern directives aimed at the electoral umpire. Gombe formally demanded that INEC immediately sever all ties with “suspended or expelled members” who have continued to represent themselves as party leaders. Central to this demand is the removal of Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam’s name from the official INEC register, a move Gombe insists is long overdue following the NWC’s earlier disciplinary actions.

Professor Gombe’s assumption of office signals a shift toward internal stabilization for the SDP. As the party prepares for upcoming off-cycle elections and the long-term journey toward 2027, the end of this legal distraction is vital. The new chairman has called for a “clarity of purpose,” inviting all genuine members of the party to return to the fold and rebuild the SDP’s image as a credible alternative to the larger political blocks.

Observers of Nigerian politics see this case as a significant precedent. It reinforces the idea that an electoral umpire cannot choose which faction of a political party to recognize when the courts have already spoken. By attempting to fight the lower courts’ decisions all the way to the Supreme Court, INEC has faced criticism for wasting public resources on a matter that the judiciary deemed settled long ago.

The atmosphere at the Abuja secretariat was one of relief and renewed vigor. Party officials noted that the paralysis caused by the leadership tussle had hindered the party’s ability to conduct primaries and participate effectively in national discourse. With Gombe now firmly at the helm, the focus shifts to auditing the party’s structures and ensuring that the constitution of the SDP is respected by all members, regardless of their status.

Gombe concluded his inaugural address by reminding INEC that its supreme authority lies in the Electoral Act and the Nigerian Constitution, not in its internal administrative preferences. He expressed hope that this ruling would discourage the commission from involving itself in the internal squabbles of other political parties in the future. For the SDP, the legal battle is over, and the era of Gombe’s administration has officially begun.