By Abimbola Ajayi
The Acting National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cease all engagements with suspended and expelled members of the party and remove the name of former National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, from its official records.
Abubakar made the call on Friday at a press briefing at the SDP National Secretariat in Abuja, following a Supreme Court judgment affirming the party’s leadership and autonomy.
He said INEC should, in line with the ruling, recognise only the duly constituted leadership of the SDP as determined by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and its constitution.
“INEC should immediately remove the name of the expelled National Chairman and replace it with that of the Acting National Chairman appointed by the NWC in accordance with the party’s constitution,” he said.
Abubakar said the Supreme Court judgment had conclusively settled the leadership dispute within the party and reaffirmed the right of political parties to manage their internal affairs without external interference.
He commended the Supreme Court, as well as the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, noting that the courts were unanimous in holding that internal party affairs are the exclusive preserve of political parties, as provided for in their constitutions.
According to him, the ruling reaffirmed the supremacy of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and party constitutions over administrative convenience.
Abubakar urged INEC to take guidance from the judgment and refrain from further interference in party affairs.
Tracing the dispute, he said the crisis began after the NWC investigated allegations of constitutional breaches and misconduct against some national officers, in line with the party’s constitution.
He said a disciplinary committee was constituted, fair hearing was granted, and following the committee’s report and adoption of a White Paper, the former National Chairman and National Auditor were expelled, with INEC duly notified.
However, he said INEC declined to recognise the new leadership and refused to accept SDP candidates in some elections, prompting the party to seek redress at the Federal High Court. Appeals by INEC to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court were also dismissed.
Abubakar thanked members of the SDP NWC for their support and said reconciliation efforts within the party were ongoing, while matters involving alleged criminal conduct would be left to relevant authorities.
He expressed hope that the judgment would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law.
