2019: SDP in dilemma over Gana, Duke

The leadership of the the Social Democratic Party, SDP, appears to be in dilemma over the legal  tussle between Professor Jerry Gana and the former Cross Rivers governor, Donald Duke over its  presidential ticket in the 2019  general elections.

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It has promised to be neutral over the tussle in the party with less than two months to the presidential poll.

The latest development was contained in a statement in Abuja yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Alfa Mohammed on its  official position over a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which sacked Mr Duke as its candidate and pronounced Gana as the authentic standard bearer.

It stated that that the leadership of the party after the judgement had resolved as follows, “ that  as a party which  recognises  the two eminent Nigerians as loyal party men with adequate intellectual competence to move Nigeria forward  will continue to treat them as such.

“SDP recognises the right of every citizen to seek redress in the court of law as done by Prof Jerry Gana, as well as the right to appeal judgements which Donald Duke has also promised to exercise

“Although the party will continue to maintain its impartial stance on the matter, it will continue to make itself available in the court when called upon to defend the primary election and the process involved”.

The party  therefore, enjoined  all its members and supporters nationwide to go about their campaigns with the desired vigour and refrain from any conduct that might likely cause division in the party.

According to the statement, “we must be guided by the fact that whichever way the case goes, SDP will continue to have a formidable and promising candidate who needs to be delivered”.

The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja presided by Justice H.Y Baba had on Friday sacked Mr Donald Duke, the Presidential Candidate of the party and declared Prof Gana as the rightful candidate in the 2019 election.