ABUJA — The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) questioning the leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing the case as lacking merit and having become an academic exercise.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court upheld the concurrent judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which had earlier directed INEC to recognize and include SDP candidates in by-elections across 12 states.
The appeal arose from INEC’s refusal to accept nomination letters signed by the SDP’s Acting National Chairman, Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar, and National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, following their suspension by a faction of the party.
The Supreme Court panel, led by Justice Mohammed Idris, held that the core of the appeal had been “dissipated” since the elections had been conducted and winners sworn in, leaving no live issue for adjudication.
“Courts do not engage in interventions on academic questions,” the court declared, affirming the lower courts’ rulings that INEC’s internal party suspension argument did not invalidate the candidates’ nominations.
The court also awarded a cost of N2 million against INEC’s lawyer for pursuing the appeal.
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Disclaimer: This report is based on the Supreme Court’s official judgment and proceedings. The legal interpretation and outcome are as delivered by the court.
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