Gombe Hails Court Ruling, Says SDP Primary Stands

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, has hailed a Federal High Court judgment affirming the party’s governorship primary and its duly elected candidate, describing the ruling as a major legal victory that has settled the dispute over the exercise.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Gombe said the judgment had effectively put an end to attempts by some individuals to alter the outcome of the party’s governorship primary through what he described as the “back door.”

He disclosed that the party was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, which would be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the necessary action.

According to him, the ruling affirmed the legitimacy of the party’s primary election and the emergence of its governorship candidate, leaving no room for further controversy.

“The Federal High Court today has settled the matter by affirming our duly elected governorship candidate. Those trying to go through the back door have failed because the court has spoken,” Gombe said.

The SDP chairman also accused some unnamed individuals of attempting to undermine the party’s internal electoral process, urging INEC, the judiciary and the media to remain vigilant against what he called efforts to subvert justice.

He further alleged that some persons unlawfully sold the party’s nomination forms and diverted proceeds into private accounts instead of the SDP’s official account.

According to him, some aspirants were directed to pay part of the nomination fees into the party’s account while the balance was allegedly paid into personal accounts.

“They were collecting money in their private capacity, not through the party’s account. We are not responsible for such illegal transactions,” he said.

Gombe advised party members, aspirants and the general public to verify all official SDP transactions through the party’s National Secretariat and the National Working Committee (NWC), stressing that only payments made through approved party channels would be recognised.

He maintained that despite recent internal challenges, the party’s National Working Committee had remained united and committed to repositioning the SDP as a credible political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We work as one family. We do not see ourselves as representatives of different states but as Nigerians committed to rescuing this country. Nigerians can count on us as we prepare to offer a credible alternative in 2027,” he said.

Gombe thanked party members, supporters and the media for their continued support, assuring them that the leadership would remain focused on strengthening internal democracy and building a united party capable of offering Nigerians an alternative in the next general elections.