By Grant Onyeke
The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Sadiq Gombe, has said a Federal High Court judgment has affirmed the legitimacy of the party’s Osun governorship candidate ahead of the upcoming elections.
Gombe stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at a news conference, saying the ruling validated the party’s primary election monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said the judgment had resolved attempts by some individuals to challenge the party’s internal processes and seek recognition outside its approved structures.
“The Federal High Court judgment delivered today has settled the matter. Our governorship candidate, Dr Francis Ajala, remains the duly elected candidate of the SDP, having emerged from a primary election properly conducted by the party and monitored by INEC,” he said.
The SDP chairman alleged that some individuals were creating confusion through protests, social media campaigns and alleged unauthorised activities, including the sale of nomination forms and collection of funds outside approved channels.
He urged the media, INEC and other stakeholders to remain vigilant against activities capable of undermining the electoral process.
Gombe advised members of the public and political aspirants to channel all party-related enquiries and transactions through the SDP national secretariat and authorised officials.
He said the party had also instituted legal action against its expelled former national chairman and former national youth leader over alleged misappropriation of more than N740 million belonging to the party.
According to him, the alleged financial infractions were uncovered after a forensic review of the party’s financial records.
Gombe said bank statements obtained through a court-compelled subpoena from Zenith Bank showed what he described as suspicious transactions, including multiple payments to individuals within short periods.
“In one day, there was a time Ogbonna was paid four to five times. There was a time in a day he was paid three times the same amount,” he said.
He alleged that about 203 transactions occurred between two major party accounts within one year, with about 85 involving the former national youth leader’s personal account.
Gombe said the SDP remained united and committed to providing Nigerians with a credible political alternative ahead of the 2027 elections. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade