2027 presidential poll: Court reserves judgment in SDP’s suit against INEC
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Abuja
The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in a case brought by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The party is contesting INEC’s decision to publish the name of Adewole Adebayo as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
In the legal action, the SDP, along with its National Organising Secretary, Dr. Chukwuma Ogbonna, alleges that INEC failed to recognize its officially nominated candidate. The SDP asserts that it conducted its presidential primary and national convention on May 20, 2026, in Abuja, overseen by its national chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam.
The plaintiffs stated in court that INEC monitored the primary election and subsequently issued a certified true copy of its monitoring report. After the primary, the SDP submitted the name and details of the winner, Hon. Abimbola Akeem Atanda, to INEC as its presidential candidate.
However, the party claims that INEC improperly published Adebayo’s name instead of that of Atanda, the winner recognized by the party following the primary election. They argue that this action contravenes the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2026 and have requested judicial intervention.
Among the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs is an order directing INEC to refrain from recognizing or publishing any name other than that of their validly nominated candidate as the SDP’s presidential candidate for the upcoming election. They also seek to invalidate Adebayo’s publication and prevent him from appearing on the ballot, contending that he was not properly nominated by the SDP. Furthermore, the plaintiffs request that the court order INEC to acknowledge and publish the name of the candidate who won the primary election.
Justice Salim Ibrahim has concluded hearings in the case after both parties presented their final briefs. The court has indicated that the date for the judgment will be communicated to the involved parties.
