Donald Duke To Appeal Judgment Removing Him As SDP Presidential

Eniola Olayemi

Former Cross River Governor, Donald Duke has rejected the decision of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to endorse President Muhammadu Buhari for the February 16 presidential election, insisting that he remains the party’s presidential candidate.

Duke made this known in a Thursday statement in reaction to the endorsment.

A communique released at the end of the party’s National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on Thursday read, “The SDP has resolved to adopt President Muhammadu Buhari and vice-presidential candidate, Prof Yemi Osibanjo, of the All Progressives Congress as candidates of the party for the 2019 presidential election.

“Consequently, all members of the party are hereby enjoined to vote for President Buhari of the APC at the presidential election coming up on Saturday, February 16, 2019.”

The chairman of the party was conspicuously missing at the NEC meeting.

Reacting, Duke said, “This afternoon, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Social Democrats Party (SDP) came up with a decision to endorse the APC and its candidate, President Mohammadu Buhari, for the February 16th Presidential election. This decision has arisen according to the party, as a result of protracted legal squabbles within the party which has made the party unable to commence a decent campaign.

“Regardless and for the avoidance of doubt, I Donald Duke, remain on the ballot and the candidate of the SDP as recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“My decision to run on an untainted political platform rather than on one which I was a founding member, is grounded on a desire to afford our electorate and indeed our nation a clean break, options and alternatives to her current gladiators.

“For the SDP NEC to thereby endorse the APC or any other party, is rather unfortunate and betrays in my opinion, the desire of the vast majority of our party members and Nigerians credible alternatives to our nation ’s leadership.”