The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has hailed a recent Supreme Court judgment that dismissed an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over a leadership dispute within the party. The court’s decision has been described as a significant victory for democracy, party autonomy, and the rule of law in Nigeria.

According to the party’s Acting National Chairman, Dr. Sadiq Gombe, the judgment reaffirms the long-established principle that the internal affairs of political parties are beyond the reach of external interference. Gombe stated that the ruling is not only significant for the SDP but also for all political parties in Nigeria, as it upholds the autonomy of parties to manage their internal processes.

The Supreme Court’s decision comes after INEC appealed a Court of Appeal ruling that compelled the electoral commission to recognize and include SDP candidates in by-elections conducted across 12 states. The Court of Appeal had affirmed a Federal High Court judgment that INEC had no authority to interfere in the internal affairs of the SDP.

The lead counsel to the SDP, Dr. Adewole Adebayo, welcomed the judgment, stating that it sends a clear warning to INEC to refrain from actions that could undermine Nigeria’s multi-party democracy. Adebayo emphasized that the SDP has no leadership crisis and that the party’s national officers are validly in office.

The dispute arose after the party appointed an acting national chairman who wrote to INEC to nominate candidates, a step the commission declined to recognize. The courts have consistently ruled that INEC has no powers to interfere in the internal affairs of political parties. Despite these decisions, INEC pursued the matter to the Supreme Court, which dismissed the appeal and awarded a 2 million cost against the commission.

The Supreme Court’s ruling reinforces the principle of party supremacy and signals judicial intolerance for undue interference by regulatory institutions in the internal affairs of political parties. The decision has significant implications for Nigeria’s democratic process, as it ensures that political parties can operate without external interference.

The SDP has urged INEC to fully comply with the judgment and allow political parties to manage their internal processes in line with their constitutions. The party has also called on political parties to uphold internal discipline and due process. With the 2027 elections approaching, the judgment is seen as a crucial step in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law.