2027 Election: Court to Decide SDP Dispute Over INEC’s Recognition of Adebayo

A Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in a suit by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to publish Adewole Adebayo as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

The suit was filed by the SDP and its National Organising Secretary, Dr Chukwuma Ogbonna, who are asking the court to compel INEC to recognise Hon. Abimbola Akeem Atanda as the party’s duly nominated candidate.

Justice Salim Ibrahim reserved judgment after lawyers representing the parties adopted their written addresses and argued their respective positions. The date for delivering the judgment will be communicated to the parties.

The plaintiffs told the court that the SDP held its presidential primary election and national convention in Abuja on May 20, 2026, under the leadership of its National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam.

They claimed Atanda won the primary and was subsequently presented to INEC as the party’s presidential candidate.

According to the plaintiffs, INEC monitored the exercise and issued a Certified True Copy of its monitoring report. They also maintained that the party submitted Atanda’s name and personal details to the electoral commission in accordance with the nomination process.

However, they alleged that INEC published Adebayo’s name instead, prompting the legal challenge.

The plaintiffs argued that the commission’s action contravened the Electoral Act, 2026, and urged the court to nullify the publication.

They are seeking an order directing INEC to stop recognising or publishing the name of any person other than Atanda as the SDP’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

They also want the court to set aside Adebayo’s publication and restrain the electoral commission from including his name on the ballot as the party’s candidate, arguing that he was not validly nominated by the SDP.

The plaintiffs further asked the court to compel INEC to recognise and publish Atanda’s name as the winner of the party’s presidential primary.

The court is expected to communicate the date for judgment to the parties in due course. The claims presented in the suit remain the plaintiffs’ position pending the court’s determination.