2019 Elections: Lagos SDP rejects Buhari, backs Atiku Abubakar

Lagos State chapter of Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Wednesday dissociated itself from what it termed the “purported” endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term of office by the party’s the National Executive Council (NEC), saying it could not have done so when Buhari’s first term in office had been a dismal failure.

Rather, the party said it concurred with the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere in endorsing the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as one to be voted for in coming election holding this Saturday.

The party said this in a joint statement issued by its chairman, Otunba Tunde Onakoya, and the governorship candidate, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, copy of which was made available to newsmen, declaring that nothing could have called for Buhari’s endorsement as under his watch, Nigeria’s GDP had declined, while Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) dropped, the stock market weakened, the cost of petrol, diesel, kerosene and food items multiplied, among others.

“We, the elected officers, candidates, stakeholders, and entire membership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Lagos State hereby wish to inform the public and our numerous supporters that we unequivocally disassociate ourselves from a statement attributed recently to the National Executive Council (NEC) of the SDP in which it was purported to have endorsed Muhammadu Buhari for President.”

“We cannot support Buhari for re-election when his first term in office (2015-2019) has been a dismal failure. On Buhari’s watch, Nigeria’s GDP declined, Direct foreign Investment dropped, the stock market weakened, the cost of petrol, diesel, kerosene and food items multiplied, and the naira at 360 to 1 dollar is at the lowest point in the history of Nigeria,” the party said.

Speaking on its preference for the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar, SDP said: “In tangent with Afenifere, the philosophical guidance of the Social Democratic Party, we believe that the ideology of Restructuring and true Federalism will propel Nigeria’s security, prosperity and progress.

“And in so far as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has over time expressed a clear commitment to restructuring, we concur with Afenifere in endorsing Atiku Abubakar as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the upcoming 2019 election.”