SDP reaffirms Buhari as presidential candidate

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Tuesday reaffirmed the adoption of President Muhammadu Buhari as its Presidential candidate, for the 2019 general election, saying the decision of the National Working Committee (NEC) of the party on the adoption remains.

The Acting Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr Olu Agunloye, who stated this during a press conference in Akure, said the party was reorganising itself towards being an alternative platform in the country.

Agunloye said the vision and goals of the party are beyond endorsement of candidates for the 2019 general election but improving the gains of representative democracy in Nigeria.

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According to him, despite the adoption of Buhari as the party’s presidential candidate in the Saturday election, the party would continue to work for the success of all its candidates vying for the National and state assembly elections across the country.

Agunloye said “SDP is to be strengthened beyond the February 16 election, what is very important for us at this critical period is building this party as a formidable force and alternative platform political for the future.

“We will maximize every opportunity at our disposal to ensuring that all the House of Assembly, senatorial and House of Representative candidates win the forthcoming elections across the Federation.”

He attributed the adoption of Buhari by the party to the crisis that ensued after the national convention of the party, saying the friction between  Prof. Jerry Gana and the former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke over the party’s ticket calls for the adoption.

Agunloye, however,  expressed his loyalty to the new Acting National Chairman, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, urging the party members to work for the success of all SDP candidates at the poll.

He said the supremacy of the party is sacrosanct and non-negotiable on the decision to adopt the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Buhari.

However,  the Ondo State Working Committee (SWC) announced the suspension of the state secretary of the party, Dr Sola Agboola, over alleged anti-party activities and gross insubordination.