S/Court Judgment Did Not Alter SDP’s Leadership — State Chairmen

The Forum of State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has rejected claims that a recent Supreme Court judgment altered the party’s national leadership, describing such assertions as false, misleading and deliberately intended to cause internal division.

In a statement signed by its secretary and Chairman of the Nasarawa State chapter, Musa Danlami, the forum said the ruling was limited to an electoral dispute arising from previously concluded by-elections and had no connection with the party’s leadership structure, authority or legitimacy.

According to the forum, the Supreme Court merely affirmed an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal and did not consider, pronounce on or validate any issue relating to the leadership of the SDP at the national level.

The chairmen warned that attempts to portray the judgment as a leadership endorsement were calculated efforts to misinform party members and the general public, and could undermine internal cohesion within the party.

They also condemned what they described as a forceful entry into the national chairman’s office by an unauthorised group, alleging that the action was politically motivated and aimed at destabilising the opposition party.

The forum accused unnamed external interests of sponsoring the incident, claiming it formed part of a broader attempt to weaken the SDP through internal disruption and confusion.

Reaffirming their stance, the chairmen said leadership legitimacy in the SDP flows strictly from the party’s constitution and established internal democratic processes, not from court judgments unrelated to leadership disputes.

They urged party members across the country to remain calm, vigilant and united, stressing that the party would not be distracted by what it described as the actions of impostors and political opportunists.

The forum further pledged to defend the unity, internal democracy and institutional integrity of the SDP, warning that it would resist any attempt to hijack the party or undermine its structure.

PR/Oduyemi Odumade