The Court of Appeal in Abuja Wednesday affirmed Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe as the party’s national chairman.

The latest pronouncement has brought to an end the protracted leadership crisis plaguing the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The appellate court in a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Fadawu Umaru, voided the Federal High Court judgment that recognised expelled Shehu Gabam as chairman, declaring Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026 a nullity.

The appeal was instituted by the Gombe-led SDP leadership to challenge the FHC ruling that sought to restore Gabam to office despite his expulsion.

Justice Umaru alongside Justices M.S. Hassan and L.A. Ganiyu in the judgment held that the Federal High Court erred in law because the Supreme Court had already settled the issue in favour of Gombe’s leadership on May 22, 2026.

While fielding questions from newsmen after the judgment, SDP presidential candidate and lead counsel, Prince Adewole Adebayo, said the appellate court dismissed all six applications filed by parties to the dispute.

The judgment, he said, rested on the fact that the FHC decision contradicted a binding Supreme Court ruling and that it wrongly recognised an expelled member.

“Today, the Court of Appeal set aside the Federal High Court judgment which Gabam was using to compel INEC to recognise him as national chairman,” Adebayo said.

The court, he said, also validated Dr. Francis Ajala as the SDP governorship candidate in Osun state, faulting the FHC for entertaining a rival claim by Salahu.

Adebayo described the verdict as the final closure to months of legal tussle that had distracted the party ahead of 2027.

“The judiciary has done very well for Nigeria and has guided INEC very well. This matter is over and settled,” he added.