SDP gives INEC 24 hours to restore Danlami Mohammed Musa as its Nasarawa governorship candidate or face legal action over the disputed list
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The party described INEC’s decision to replace Musa’s name with Adamu’s as illegal and unlawful, threatening to take the commission to court if it fails to comply with its demand.
In a petition dated October 21, 2026, and addressed to the INEC chairman at the commission’s headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, the SDP accused the electoral body of disregarding the authority of the Supreme Court.
The petition was signed by the party’s National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, and Acting National Secretary, Uchechukwu Chukwuma. INEC acknowledged receipt of the document on the same day.
Musa, who chairs the SDP in Nasarawa State and also serves as the state chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), emerged as the party’s governorship candidate through a consensus primary held on May 26, 2026.
The party said it was puzzled that INEC accepted a letter from Gabam dated May 29, 2026, introducing Adamu as an SDP member after his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), but subsequently rejected a letter dated June 5 forwarding Musa’s name as the party’s duly nominated candidate.
The SDP argued that the commission could not recognise Gabam as the party’s national chairman for one communication while disregarding his authority in another.
According to the party, Musa’s name was included in the membership register submitted to INEC before the May 10, 2026 deadline, whereas Adamu’s name was absent.
The party further alleged that Adamu participated in the APC governorship primary on May 21, resigned from the party on May 24 and joined the SDP on May 29 — after the deadline for submitting the membership register.
On that basis, the SDP questioned his eligibility to emerge as its candidate.
The SDP said its objection was based on eight grounds, including its interpretation that the Electoral Act, 2026 does not recognise an “updated register”.
It also maintained that Musa had not withdrawn from the governorship race and challenged the validity of a fresh primary reportedly held on September 5, 2026, which produced Adamu.
According to the party, the September exercise fell outside the 14-day period allowed for conducting a replacement primary following the alleged withdrawal said to have occurred on June 9.
In a separate petition to INEC, Musa also condemned the publication of Adamu’s name, describing it as a violation of his rights and a disregard for the law and the authority of the Supreme Court.
Also read: SDP’s Adebayo Criticises Tinubu Over Yoruba Values
The dispute places INEC’s final list of Nasarawa governorship candidates at the centre of a growing disagreement, with the SDP warning that it will pursue legal action if the commission does not meet its 24-hour demand.
