By Adekola Afolabi
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Less than 10 days to the presidential election, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has pledged to support the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its consensus candidate.
In a statement in Abuja on Thursday, it said the decision was part of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party.
The statement, signed by the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Yemi Akinbode, said the party also suspended its National Publicity Secretary, Alfa Muhammad.
“The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has resolved to adopt President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as candidates of our party for the 2019 presidential election.
“Members of the SDP are enjoined to vote for President Buhari at the presidential level only, ” he said.
Akinbode said that the party was not going into merger with the APC but explained the party’s decision was due to its inability to present a candidate.
This, he explained, was due to a “lingering legal battle” between Donald Duke, the winner of the SDP presidential primaries and his major challenger, Prof. Jerry Gana.
“We, therefore, feel that it is imperative to technically withdraw from the presidential election and focus on the National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections, for which we have fielded candidates across the country.”
The party also suspended its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad, for allegedly breaching its constitution by indulging in anti-party activities.
All attempts to speak with the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, proved abortive as his line was switched off.
When contacted, the Ondo state chairman of the party, Chief Korede Duyile neither affirm the party’s adoption of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term nor did he deny it.
In a telephone interview, Duyile simply said “I’m still away in Abuja and by tomorrow I will be able to confirm it with you fully. I can’t confirm anything now, I’m in a meeting”.
