Prof. Sadiq Gombe Takes SDP Helm as INEC Updates Leadership Records

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognized Professor Sadiq Umar Gombe as the substantive National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This decision follows the expulsion of the former chairman, Shehu Gabam, and aligns with a recent Supreme Court judgment.

Mr. Rufus Aiyenigba, the National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, confirmed this development in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja. He noted that INEC has updated its official records to reflect Professor Gombe's new position. Independent checks by our correspondent also verified that Professor Gombe's name is now visible on the commission's online portal as the current national chairman. This marks a pivotal moment in the prolonged leadership dispute that has plagued the opposition party over the past few months.

Aiyenigba further stated that INEC removed the names of Gabam and other expelled members from its records on June 17. The statement highlighted, “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.”

The party believes that with the resolution of this “externally induced leadership crisis,” the SDP is now on a stable path, poised to effectively contest the 2027 general elections. They expressed confidence in their popular Presidential Candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, asserting that Nigerians view him as capable and competent to address the nation's challenges.

Mr. Aiyenigba lauded INEC for its commitment to upholding the rule of law and respecting judicial pronouncements. He remarked, “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.” The party spokesman emphasized that INEC’s action is consistent with the Supreme Court’s stance on the internal affairs of political parties.

He elaborated, “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.” Aiyenigba expressed hope that INEC would adopt this approach consistently with all political parties, demonstrating its true independence.

The SDP reiterated its commitment to collaborating with democratic institutions and the Nigerian populace to bolster democracy and tackle the country's socio-economic issues. The leadership tussle within the SDP had escalated due to disagreements between factions vying for control of the party's national structure. While Gabam had initially been recognized based on a Court of Appeal ruling, the party consistently argued that subsequent legal proceedings, culminating in the Supreme Court judgment, affirmed its right to determine its leadership and discipline members according to its constitution.

Speaking to journalists at the Magistrate’s Court in Abuja on Wednesday, Professor Gombe conveyed optimism regarding the party's position in an ongoing court case related to the leadership dispute. The court adjourned the case to July 28, 2026, because banking documents, crucial as evidence, were not available for the hearing.

Professor Gombe attributed the delay to the financial institution's inability to produce a required bank statement. He explained that initial attempts to obtain the document directly from the bank were unsuccessful within the given timeframe. “We approached the court registry to secure a subpoena directing the bank to produce the statement,” he noted. Gombe added that the bank informed the court that the document was extensive, requiring headquarters approval and official certification before release. Consequently, the prosecution requested more time, leading to the adjournment.

Addressing the internal party dispute, Gombe affirmed that the disciplinary actions taken against some members by the SDP were in full compliance with the party’s constitution and relevant legal frameworks. He confirmed that these decisions received approval from both the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee and were duly communicated to INEC. “The party followed due process in handling the matter,” he stated, emphasizing the SDP’s continued focus on its activities despite the 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 concluded.