SDP disown Donald Duke, supports Buhari

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has disowned Donald Duke and adopted President Buhari as its consensus candidate for the upcoming presidential election.

The party made the decision on Thursday during its national executive council meeting in Abuja, though they explained that the adoption does not herald a merger with the APC.

Prior to the development, Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River, was the flag bearer of the SDP.

A statement, signed by the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Yemi Akinbode, made available to NAN 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.

Duke was declared the presidential candidate of the party in January following a ruling by the court of appeal in Abuja which set aside the judgment of an Abuja high court declaring Jerry Gana, former information minister, as the party’s presidential flagbearer.

Donlad Duke left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2018 to pursue his presidential ambitions on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)

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