Confusion in SDP as state chairmen shun party NEC, declare support for Atiku

Ahead of the February 16 presidential election, discordant tones in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), appear to have worsened.

SDP state chairmen have dumped the position of the National Executive Council (NEC) and instead, adopted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for Saturday’s presidential election.

SDP NEC had recently endorsed incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC)abandoning its president candidate, Donald Duke.

The NEC had claimed its action was due to legal battle between Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, and Jerry Gana over who is the authentic presidential candidate of the SDP.

But apparently uncomfortable with the position of the party’s NEC, SDP state chairmen, in a communiqué issued at the end of their emergency meeting in Abuja on Wednesday night and made available to journalists on Thursday, adopted Atiku as their preferred presidential candidate.

In the communiqué signed by the chairman of the forum, Collins Oreruan, from Edo State chapter, they said their endorsement of Atiku was based on his promises to restructure Nigeria, devolve more powers to the lower tiers of governance, bridge the gap between the poor and the rich, end insecurity and reduce unemployment.

“The SDP state chairmen who met 9pm today (Wednesday) at Asokoro, Abuja expressed disappointment and condemned the appointment of parallel state chairmen by few renegade members of the party using such ‘chairmen’ to issue counter statements purporting to endorse Buhari against the popular directive of the SDP NEC at a well attended meeting on Wednesday 12/2/19 that all the SDP state chapters rally members and supporters to vote for Atiku Abubakar during the Saturday election.

“We believe that it will amount to poverty of principle and conscience to be endorsing Buhari few days to election after working tirelessly for over three years preparing for his replacement for non performance.

“The forum further observed that the fake statements written in the same pattern and authored by one person were issued by the renegade group within the party in order to persuade their sponsors that they have the support of all the state chairmen so as to get some money for themselves.

“Flowing from the above, SDP chairmen wish to restate the party’s commitment to Atiku Abubakar presidency which promises to restructure Nigerian polity, devolve more powers to the lower tiers of governance, bridge the gap between the poor and the rich; end insecurity and reduce unemployment.

“Finally, the forum called on INEC not to deal with any person possing as state chairman apart from those whose record of election they have.

READ ALSO: Ripples Nigeria Poll: Buhari wins by votes, Atiku by comments

“The chairmen commended the forum of SDP National Assembly candidates for endorsing the adoption of Atiku Abubakar,” the communiqué read.

Among the state chairmen of the SDP at the meeting were those of Edo, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti, Niger, Plateau, Bauchi, Kebbi and Kano states.

Others include those of Nasarawa, Kogi, Osun, Oyo, Taraba, Rivers, Bayelsa, Enugu, Anambra, Lagos, Kwara, Adamawa, Gombe and Ondo states.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now