By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised Professor Sadiq Gombe as the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and replaced the name of the expelled former chairman, Shehu Gabam, on its portal.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Rufus Aiyenigba, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, June 17, in Abuja.
According to the statement, the electoral commission had updated its records in compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgement, bringing to an end the protracted leadership crisis that has rocked the opposition party in recent months.
Aiyenigba added that INEC removed the name of the former chairman and other expelled members from its records on June 17.
Checks by Impact Nigeria Newspaper confirmed that Prof. Gombe’s name has been listed on the INEC portal as the current National Chairman of the SDP alongside Dr Olu Agunloye as National Secretary, Hajia Maggie Mariam as National Treasurer, Bello Ado Huseni as National Financial Secretary, and Barrister Aderemi Abimbola as National Legal Adviser.
The statement read, “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 judgement.
“Having finally overcome and laid to rest the externally induced leadership crisis, the party now stands on a strong pedestal of sustainable stability to be strongly positioned for the 2027 general elections, with its very popular presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, whom Nigerians comfortably relate with as possessing the requisite capacity and competence to take the country out of the woods.”
Aiyenigba commended INEC for what it described as its decision to uphold the rule of law and respect judicial pronouncements.
“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,” he added.
The party spokesman further argued that the commission’s action was consistent with the position of the Supreme Court on the internal affairs of political parties.
He said, “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.
“We expect that INEC will use this moment to turn a new leaf and work cooperatively and respectfully with not only the SDP, but all political parties, in a manner that will show that the word ‘independent,’ which is the first name of INEC, is not a hollow term.”
The leadership crisis within the SDP intensified following a dispute between rival factions over the control of the party’s national structure.
Shehu Gabam continued to be recognised as the party’s national chairman based on an earlier Court of Appeal ruling.
The party, however, maintained that subsequent legal developments, culminating in a Supreme Court judgement, affirmed its authority to determine its leadership and discipline members in line with its constitution.
