The leadership crisis in Nigeria's Social Democratic Party (SDP) may not be resolved yet as party leaders loyal to Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam have insisted that the Supreme Court did not make any pronouncement determining the leadership of the party. In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, the party leaders clarified that the recent proceedings before the Supreme Court were connected to the Osun State governorship election and the legal disputes surrounding the party's participation in the election.
According to the party leaders, the appeal had become academic following the conduct of the election and was subsequently withdrawn. They stressed that an appeal becoming academic was not the same as the court determining the substantive issues in the case. The party leaders urged party members, journalists, and the public to disregard interpretations of the proceedings suggesting that the apex court had declared Professor Abubakar Umar Sadiq Gombe as the National Chairman of the party.
The party leaders also emphasized that statements made by lawyers or representatives of either side should not be presented as the judgment of the Supreme Court. They argued that the only authoritative way to establish exactly what the court decided was to obtain and examine the Certified True Copy of the judgment. Furthermore, they noted that the Gabam-led leadership did not institute the original case but became involved in the proceedings subsequently.
Barr. Chuks Uguru, counsel to the appellant, supported the position of the party leaders, arguing that the Supreme Court did not rule on the leadership of the SDP but on the matter relating to the Osun State governorship election. He maintained that the proceedings before the apex court should not be interpreted as a pronouncement on the party's leadership, reinforcing the position that the Osun election matter should be distinguished from the separate leadership dispute within the SDP.
The counsel urged party members and the public to remain calm and allow the law to take its course, saying the Certified True Copy of the judgment would provide the definitive basis for determining what the Supreme Court actually decided. He also called for caution among journalists reporting the matter, advising them to examine the actual issues before the court, what the court determined, the orders it made, and importantly, what issues it did not determine.
The party leaders and counsel have called for calm among SDP members, candidates, and supporters, saying the matter should be allowed to follow due process pending the release of the Certified True Copy of the judgment. They also appealed to the media to hear both sides and avoid relying solely on headlines, social-media posts, or statements issued by one faction in reporting the Supreme Court proceedings.
The clarification has become necessary due to different interpretations of the Supreme Court proceedings that had created confusion among party members and the general public. The party leaders and counsel have reiterated their commitment to allowing the law to take its course and resolving the leadership crisis in accordance with due process.
Key points
- The Supreme Court did not make a pronouncement on the leadership dispute in the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
- The recent proceedings before the Supreme Court were connected to the Osun State governorship election and the legal disputes surrounding the party's participation in the election.
- The Certified True Copy of the judgment will provide the definitive basis for determining what the Supreme Court actually decided.
