The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has welcomed a recent Supreme Court judgment that dismissed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) appeal in a leadership dispute within the party. The court’s decision is being hailed as a significant victory for democracy, party autonomy, and the rule of law in Nigeria. Acting National Chairman Dr. Sadiq Gombe said the ruling reaffirms the long‑established principle that the internal affairs of political parties are beyond external interference. He added that the judgment is not only important for the SDP but also for all Nigerian parties, as it upholds their right to manage internal processes independently.
The Supreme Court’s ruling follows INEC’s appeal of a Court of Appeal decision that had compelled the commission to recognize and include SDP candidates in by‑elections across twelve states. The Court of Appeal had affirmed a Federal High Court judgment stating that INEC lacks authority to intervene in the SDP’s internal matters. SDP lead counsel Dr. Adewole Adebayo welcomed the judgment, warning INEC against actions that could undermine Nigeria’s multi‑party democracy. He emphasized that the SDP has no leadership crisis and that its national officers are validly in office.
The dispute originated when the party appointed an acting national chairman who wrote to INEC requesting the nomination of candidates, a request the commission refused to recognize. Courts have consistently ruled that INEC has no power to interfere in the internal affairs of political parties. Nevertheless, INEC pursued the matter to the Supreme Court, which dismissed the appeal and ordered the commission to pay ₦2 million in costs.
The Supreme Court’s decision reinforces the principle of party supremacy and signals judicial intolerance for undue interference by regulatory bodies in party affairs. It has significant implications for Nigeria’s democratic process, ensuring that political parties can operate without external meddling. The SDP has urged INEC to fully comply with the judgment and allow parties to manage their internal processes in line with their constitutions, while also calling on all parties to uphold internal discipline and due process. With the 2027 elections approaching, the ruling is seen as a crucial step toward strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law.
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