Less than one week to the February 16 Presidential election, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has adopted President Muhammadu Buhari as its consensus candidate.
In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Yemi Akinbode, the party hinged its decision on a resolution of its National Executive Council (NEC), which met in Abuja.
Akinbode said: “The NEC of the SDP has resolved to adopt president Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, of the APC, as candidates of the party for the 2019 presidential election.
“Members of the SDP are enjoined to vote for president Buhari.”
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Akinbode, who reiterated that the party does not intend to go into a merger with the APC, explained the decision of the party to back Buhari was due to the party’s inability to present and campaign for its candidate due to the “lingering legal battle between Donald Duke, winner of the SDP presidential primaries and his major challenger, Professor Jerry Gana.
“We, therefore, felt that it was imperative to technically withdraw from the presidential election and focus on the National Assembly, governorship and state assemblies elections, for which we have fielded candidates across the country.”
The party also suspended its National Publicity Secretary, Alfa Muhammad, for breaching the constitution of party by allegedly indulging in anti-party activities.
At the time of filing this report, Duke could not be reached for comments, but Gana is, however, expected to address the media on the development today.
