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Barely 24 hours to the governorship poll, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has withdrawn support for its governorship candidate, Peter Obafemi, and adopted Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

Announcing the decision at a press conference in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the SDP State Chairman, Ayodele Bamikole, said the endorsement followed consultations with party leaders, stakeholders and members across the 16 local government areas of the state.

Bamikole explained that the party assessed the candidates in the election and concluded that the governor had demonstrated quality leadership qualities and unalloyed commitment to the development of the state.

He said: “On behalf of all members of the Social Democratic Party in Ekiti State, I formally and enthusiastically endorse His Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, and his deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, in their bid for re-election in Saturday’s governorship election.

“This decision was not taken lightly. It followed broad consultations and a thorough evaluation of the political landscape as well as the performance of the various candidates seeking the mandate of the people.”

The SDP chairman said the party’s decision was further influenced by what he described as the inactivity of its candidate, whom he said failed to effectively engage party members or mount a visible campaign after emerging as the party’s flag bearer through a substitution process.

He noted that the party could not in good conscience continue to support a candidate who had failed to demonstrate the commitment and capacity required for such an important electoral contest.

Bamikole stated that Oyebanji’s stellar record in office convinced the party that continuity would serve the best interests of Ekiti people.

Also, the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party(ZLP), Victor Adetunji, has withdrawn from the race and declared support for Oyebanji.

Adetunji announced his decision in a statement yesterday, saying the move was borne out of the need to place the interest and development of Ekiti above partisan considerations.

The ZLP standard-bearer said his withdrawal followed extensive consultations with party leaders, political associates and supporters across the state’s 16 local government areas.

Adetunji explained that the decision was taken after careful assessment of the political situation in the state and the supersonic performance of the Oyebanji-led administration.

Adetunji noted that Oyebanji had demonstrated commitment to the development of the state through policies and programmes aimed at improving infrastructure, healthcare delivery, education and the welfare of residents.

He said that the progress already recorded by the Governor Oyebanji-led APC administration should be consolidated through continuity in governance.

He urged members of the Zenith Labour Party and his supporters across the state to throw their weight behind the governor and vote massively for him in Saturday’s election.

“I now call on all Zenith Labour Party supporters across the state to unite and vote for Governor Biodun Oyebanji. Let us continue to support his efforts to transform Ekiti into a land of pride for all of us,” he stated.

He added that politics should be driven by the collective aspirations of the people rather than personal ambition,stressing that his decision was informed by his desire to see Ekiti continue on the path of peace and sustainable development.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has recognised Prof Sadiq Umar Gombe as the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party, replacing the expelled former chairman, Shehu Gabam.

The National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, said the electoral commission had updated its records in compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment.

An independent investigation by our correspondent also confirmed that Gombe’s name had resurfaced on the portal of the commission as the current national chairman.

The development marks a significant turn in the protracted leadership crisis that has rocked the opposition party in recent months.

In his statement, Aiyenigba added that INEC removed the name of the former chairman and other expelled members from its records on June 17.

The statement read, “INEC on Wednesday bowed to the autonomy of the Social Democratic Party by implementing the ruling of the Supreme Court by uploading the name of Prof Sadiq Gombe to replace the expelled former national chairman, Shehu Gabam, who was previously recognised by the commission on account of an earlier Court of Appeal judgment.

“Having finally overcome and laid to rest the externally induced leadership crisis, the party now stands on a strong pedestal of sustainable stability to be strongly positioned for the 2027 general elections, with its very popular Presidential Candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, whom Nigerians comfortably relate with as possessing the requisite capacity and competence to take the country out of the woods.”

Aiyenigba commended INEC for what it described as its decision to uphold the rule of law and respect judicial pronouncements.

“The decision of INEC to respect the rule of law and judicial authorities, particularly in this instance, is widely commended by not a few Nigerians, especially within the ranks of the SDP faithful nationwide,” he added.

The party spokesman further argued that the commission’s action was consistent with the position of the Supreme Court on the internal affairs of political parties.

He said, “It is pertinent to note that this new stance of INEC to recognise and respect the autonomy of the SDP to choose its leadership and discipline and conduct its internal affairs solely in accordance with its constitution as moderated by the constitution of Nigeria and the Electoral Act 2026, is in line with the express guardian of the Supreme Court, that neither the courts nor INEC has authority or power to interfere in the internal affairs of political parties.

“We expect that INEC will use this moment to turn a new leaf and work cooperatively and respectfully with not only the SDP, but all political parties, in a manner that will show that the word ‘independent’, which is the first name of INEC, is not a hollow term.”

The SDP also pledged to continue working with democratic institutions and Nigerians to strengthen democracy and address the country’s socio-economic challenges.

The leadership crisis within the SDP intensified following a dispute between rival factions over the control of the party’s national structure.

While Gabam had continued to enjoy recognition based on an earlier Court of Appeal ruling, the party maintained that subsequent legal developments, culminating in a Supreme Court judgment, affirmed its authority to determine its leadership and discipline members in line with its constitution.

Gombe, speaking to journalists after the proceedings at the Magistrate’s Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, expressed confidence in the party’s position in an ongoing court case arising from the party’s leadership dispute.

The court on Wednesday adjourned the case until July 28, 2026, after banking documents expected to be presented as evidence were not made available for the continuation of the hearing.

Gombe said the delay was caused by the inability of the financial institution involved to produce a bank statement required by the prosecution.

According to him, efforts were initially made to obtain the document directly from the bank, but the process could not be completed within the stipulated period.

“We approached the court registry to secure a subpoena directing the bank to produce the statement,” he said.

Gombe explained that the bank informed the court that the document was voluminous and required approval from its headquarters as well as official certification before it could be released.

He said the prosecution subsequently requested more time to obtain the document, leading to the court’s decision to adjourn the case until July 28.

Commenting on the internal dispute within the SDP, Gombe maintained that the party’s actions regarding disciplinary measures against some members were carried out in accordance with its constitution and relevant legal provisions.

He stated that the decisions were approved by the party’s National Working Committee and National Executive Committee and were communicated to INEC.

“The party followed due process in handling the matter,” he said, adding that the SDP remained focused on its activities despite the ongoing legal proceedings.

“The SDP remains focused on its activities despite the ongoing legal proceedings. We are confident that the court process will provide clarity on the issues in contention, and the party will continue to operate in line with its constitution and the law,” he added.

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has introduced a compulsory affidavit for all its candidates seeking elective offices, requiring them to forfeit their seats if they defect from the party after winning elections.

The national chairman of the party, Moses Cleopas, announced the policy during an indemnity signing meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.

He stressed that candidates, including gubernatorial and presidential candidates, must depose to the affidavit.

Cleopas explained that the development was not a witch-hunt but aimed at protecting the sanctity of electoral mandates and curbing what he described as “post-election political migration.”

He said the party would not tolerate situations where elected officials abandon the platform that brought them to office but seek to retain the mandate.

“The mandate belongs to the party and the people who voted through that platform. If you leave the party after winning, you cannot continue to hold the seat,” he said.

The National Chairman explained that the policy was intended to ensure candidates clearly accept the condition before contesting elections under the NDC, saying: “We are putting this in black and white. Once you take the ticket, you are bound by it. If you leave, you leave with the seat.”

Referencing political realignments across parties, including the Labour Party, he said such cases underscore the need for stricter internal safeguards.

“In the Labour Party, we have seen situations where people won elections on the platform and later moved elsewhere. That is the kind of thing we are trying to stop,” he said.

On the legal basis of the policy, Cleopas cited provisions of both international and domestic legal frameworks, arguing that while freedom of association is guaranteed, it does not automatically extend to retaining elective office after defection.

He specifically referenced Section 14 and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which he said guarantee political participation and freedom of association, including the right to join or leave political parties.

He also pointed to provisions of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), arguing that democratic rights under the Constitution must be balanced with party-based electoral mandates.

According to him, elected officeholders are products of party nomination systems and therefore cannot separate their mandate from the platform that sponsored their election.

Explaining further, the party’s National Legal Adviser, Barrister Reuben Egwuaba, expanded on the constitutional argument, saying the NDC constitution itself contains enforceable clauses on defection.

He cited Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the NDC Constitution, which, according to him, establish that elected officials remain bound by the party platform through which they were elected.

“These provisions make it clear that once you are elected under the NDC, your mandate is tied to the party. If you resign from the party, you cannot retain the office,” he said.

Egwuaba added that the affidavit requirement would serve as an enforceable legal undertaking binding candidates before they are cleared to contest.

“Without this affidavit, your name will not even be uploaded to the INEC portal. It is a strict requirement,” he said.

The legal adviser explained that the measure was intended to close what he described as “legal loopholes that allow post-election defections without consequence.”

He further said the policy aligns with the party’s internal disciplinary framework, which empowers it to demand resignation from members who abandon the platform mid-tenure.

The NDC maintained that the new rule was necessary to strengthen party discipline, preserve voter intent and reduce what it called the “distortion of electoral mandates through opportunistic defections.”

Some gubernatorial and National Assembly candidates present at the meeting signed the affidavits before the end of the event. However, the presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, had not come in for the signing, which was still ongoing as at press time.