By Nefishetu Yakubu
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to act on a Federal High Court judgment being relied upon by its former National Chairman, Shehu Gabam.
The party said the judgment could not supersede an earlier decision of the Supreme Court, which it claimed had set aside the Court of Appeal judgment on which the High Court ruling was based.
The SDP made the position known in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba.
Aiyenigba was reacting to a letter dated July 9 and submitted to INEC on behalf of Gabam by his lawyers, forwarding a June 24 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to him, the judgment has been appealed by the party and the matter is now pending before the Court of Appeal.
He said the plaintiff in the suit was neither the SDP governorship candidate in Osun nor a participant in the party’s governorship primary.
The spokesperson also argued that the Supreme Court had consistently held that courts lacked jurisdiction to determine the leadership of political parties.
He said the Federal High Court judgment did not direct INEC to recognise Gabam as national chairman or Ogbonna Okechukwu as national secretary.
Aiyenigba further alleged that the High Court relied on a Court of Appeal decision in Fayemi Tosin Babatunde v. INEC, which had been set aside by the Supreme Court on May 22.
He said INEC had already complied with the appellate court’s decision before it was nullified by the apex court.
The SDP, therefore, urged INEC to maintain the status quo on the party’s leadership pending the determination of the appeal.
According to the party, acting on the High Court judgment would amount to restoring a Court of Appeal decision that had already been nullified by the Supreme Court.
The party also accused Gabam of attempting to destabilise the SDP, insisting that the party was “a public institution belonging to Nigerians”.
It maintained that the Supreme Court remained the final authority on the matter and that its decisions were binding on all lower courts.
Aiyenigba said the party had successfully held its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday, describing it as the second within four months.
He said the meeting reflected the party’s commitment to internal democracy and constitutional governance.
According to him, the SDP has completed the nomination of its presidential candidate, Dr Adewole Adebayo, and vice-presidential candidate, Dr Usman Bugaje, for the 2027 general elections.
He added that the party was also uploading the names and credentials of other candidates who emerged from its primaries across the country.
Aiyenigba said the SDP remained focused on strengthening its structures and preparing for the 2027 general elections. NAN) www.nannews.ng
NY/TAK
Edited by Tosin Kolade