SDP challenges court ruling on Osun governorship candidate
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has appealed a Federal High Court judgment that recognised Olaitan Salawu-Adeniyi as its governorship candidate for the Osun 2026 election. The party, through its National Publicity Secretary Rufus Aiyenigba, is seeking to halt the execution of the judgment until its appeal is resolved. The SDP also wants the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from implementing the decision. The case involves disputes over party leadership and candidate recognition.
Key takeaways
- SDP filed an appeal against the Federal High Court judgment recognising Olaitan Salawu-Adeniyi as its Osun governorship candidate for 2026.
- The party is asking the Court of Appeal to stay the execution of the judgment and restrain INEC from acting on it until the appeal is decided.
- The Federal High Court had directed INEC to enforce an earlier Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 27, 2026, recognising Shehu Gabam as the party’s national chairman.
- SDP claims the Supreme Court set aside that decision on May 22, 2026, making the High Court’s order inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
- The appeal involves Olaitan, INEC, Shehu Gabam, and former National Youth Leader Uchechukwu Chukwuma as respondents.
