The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja to stop the enforcement of a Federal High Court judgment that recognised Olaitan Salawu-Adeniyi as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election. The request was filed while the party awaits the outcome of its appeal against the decision.
The party disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba. It said it also asked the appellate court to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from carrying out the judgment until the appeal is concluded.
According to the SDP, the appeal followed the June 24, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The party said the ruling directed INEC to act on an earlier Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 27, 2026, which recognised Shehu Gabam as the party’s national chairman.
The SDP maintained that the Court of Appeal decision had already been set aside by the Supreme Court on May 22, 2026, making the Federal High Court judgment inconsistent with the apex court’s ruling.
The party argued that the appeal raises important legal issues that should first be decided by the Court of Appeal. It added that allowing INEC to implement the judgment before the appeal is heard could change the situation permanently and make the appeal meaningless if it eventually succeeds.
For that reason, the SDP asked the court to preserve the current position until the appeal is determined, saying it would serve the interest of justice.
The party also explained that the legal dispute arose from its Osun State governorship primary involving Olaitan Salawu-Adeniyi, Shehu Gabam and former National Youth Leader Ogbonna Okechukwu. It insisted that Gabam and Okechukwu are not members of the SDP.
According to the party, the respondents listed in the appeal include Olaitan Salawu-Adeniyi, the Independent National Electoral Commission, Shehu Gabam and former National Youth Leader Uchechukwu Chukwuma.
The Court of Appeal is expected to decide whether the Federal High Court judgment should remain on hold while the appeal challenging the decision is heard.