Supreme Court Throws Out INEC Appeal Against SDP, Awards ₦2m Costs

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission challenging the leadership status of the Social Democratic Party and its participation in recent by-elections.

In a unanimous decision, the apex court ruled that the appeal lacked merit, noting that the elections in question had already been conducted and winners sworn in, rendering the matter academic.

The dispute arose after INEC declined to recognise SDP candidates nominated through primaries monitored by the commission, citing internal party suspensions of key signatories to nomination documents.

Lower courts had ordered INEC to include the party’s candidates, a decision the electoral body appealed unsuccessfully up to the Supreme Court.

The court upheld the concurrent findings of the lower courts and awarded ₦2 million in costs against INEC’s legal team, stressing that courts do not rule on hypothetical or spent matters.