The Court of Appeal in Abuja has brought an end to the lingering leadership crisis in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), affirming Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe as the party’s National Chairman.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Wednesday, a three-member panel led by Justice Fadawu Umaru set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court which had recognised the expelled Shehu Gabam as National Chairman of the party.

The panel, comprising Justices M.S. Hassan and L.A. Ganiyu, alongside Justice Umaru, declared Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026 a nullity.

The appeal was filed by the Gombe-led SDP leadership against the Federal High Court judgment which had sought to restore Gabam to the party’s leadership despite his expulsion.

Justice Umaru held that the Federal High Court erred in law by entertaining the matter, noting that the Supreme Court had already settled the leadership dispute in favour of the Gombe-led faction in its judgment of May 22, 2026.

The SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, who spoke after Wednesday’s judgment, said the appellate court unanimously ruled in favour of the party on six applications and also upheld the party’s position on its governorship candidate for the Osun State election.

Adebayo said the Court of Appeal held that the Federal High Court judgment recognising Gabam and another former party member as acting National Secretary was a nullity because it contradicted an earlier decision of the Supreme Court delivered on May 22, 2026.

He said the appellate court’s decision had effectively removed the legal foundation of the rival leadership claim.