Osun 2026: Appeal Court Affirms Olugbenga Ajala as SDP Governorship Candidate, Validates Sadiq Gombe as National Chairman

The Court of Appeal has put an end to the leadership tussle within the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by affirming Professor Sadiq Abubakar Gombe as the party’s authentic National Chairman.

In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Muslim Hassan, the appellate court ruled that the leadership dispute had already been definitively settled by the Supreme Court.

Court Clears Deck for Osun Election

Following the validation of the national leadership, the Court of Appeal officially affirmed Olugbenga Ajala as the legitimate SDP candidate for this Saturday’s highly anticipated Osun State governorship election.

The landmark judgment effectively clears all legal hurdles, putting to rest the intense controversy surrounding the party’s candidacy and leadership legitimacy just days before voters head to the polls.

Background on the SDP Leadership Crisis

The SDP had been embroiled in a fierce internal crisis, with competing factions laying claim to the party’s national leadership.

The legal battle intensified following the expulsion of the former National Chairman, Shehu Gabam.

With this latest appellate court ruling, the Gombe-led executive cements its authority, giving Olugbenga Ajala full legal backing for the weekend’s gubernatorial race.