Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on becoming aware of the development, has began giving effect to the judgment by including SDP on the ballot paper for the coming Governorship election in Osun State. 

The panel, which also comprised Justices M.S. Hassan and L.A. Ganiyu, declared Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/402/2026 a nullity, voided it and set it aside. 

The appeal against the Federal High Court judgment was filed by the Gombe-led SDP leadership to challenge the High Court’s decision that sought to restore Gabam to office despite his expulsion.

Justice Umaru held that the Federal High Court erred in law because the Supreme Court had already settled the leadership issue in favour of Gombe’s leadership on May 22, 2026.

SDP presidential candidate and lead counsel, Prince Adewole Adebayo, in a reaction said the appellate court dismissed all six applications filed by parties to the dispute.

Adewole explained that the judgment rested on two grounds: that the high court decision contradicted a binding Supreme Court ruling, and that it wrongly recognised an expelled member.

“Today, the Court of Appeal set aside the Federal High Court judgment which Gabam was using to compel INEC to recognise him as National Chairman,” Adebayo said.

He added that the court also validated Dr Francis Ajala as the SDP governorship candidate in Osun State, faulting the Federal High Court for entertaining a rival claim by Salahu.

Adebayo described the verdict as the final closure to months of legal tussle that had distracted the party ahead of 2027.

“The judiciary has done very well for Nigeria and has guided INEC very well. This matter is over and settled,” he added.

He further stated that with the dispute resolved, the SDP would now focus on defeating the APC government in the next general elections.

SDP National Chairman, Prof Sadiq Gombe, also hailed the judiciary for the expeditious handling of the case within four to five days.

Gombe called on INEC to respect the internal decisions of all 22 registered political parties, particularly on candidate selection.

Abdullahi said, given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of the current administration towards the opposition, the party cannot afford to dismiss the reports.

He added that if any security agency has a lawful reason to invite the ADC chieftain, there are established procedures for doing so.

DAILY POST reports that Aregbesola is a former Governor of Osun State and former Minister of Interior.

“We have received credible reports of plans to arrest our National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in the days leading to Saturday’s Osun State election.

An arrest on the eve of an election in which his party is participating would invite only one reasonable conclusion; that the purpose is to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities.

“We therefore put the Federal Government and the security agencies on notice. The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun. Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now.

“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis. Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” the statement said.

The Court mandated the Commission to immediately acknowledge, accept, upload, process, and publish the name and details of Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala as the candidate for the Social Democratic Party.

As a result, the ballot papers for the election, set to take place on Saturday, 15th August 2026, are being reprinted to include this addition, increasing the total number of political parties participating in the election to fifteen, 15. The result sheets for the election are also being reprinted to incorporate the SDP candidate.

In a statement issued by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission informed the public that the newly printed ballot papers are expected to arrive in Osun State on Thursday, 13th August 2026, and will be distributed to Local Government Area offices throughout the state on the same day, following the standard distribution protocol prior to the election.

INEC has assured political parties, candidates, and the general public of its dedication to facilitating a free, fair, and credible election in Osun State.