2019: SDP pulls out of Atiku’s endorsement as consensus presidential candidate

*Accuses PDP of breach of trust

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has dissociated itself from the last week’s endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by about 41 political parties in Abuja as their consensus candidate for the 2019 election.
The SDP categorically said that it will never collapse into any Party as it is the choice of Nigerians in the 2019 elections.
The Party said this yesterday in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Alfa Mohammed.
The SDP pointed out that it has resolved that the emergence of a consensus candidate as reported is unacceptable to it, because it neither followed due process nor did it measure up to the established standard set out and which was assented to by the member political parties of the alliance.
The party described itself as a principled and self-respecting Party with a clear vision and sense of mission,stressing that it has resolved to move on with its campaigns to commence the presentation of its Presidential Candidate, H.E Donald Duke and others to the public soon.
According to the statement by Alhaji Mohammed, “SDP resolved that the emergence of a consensus candidate as reported is unacceptable to it, because it did not follow due process nor did it measure up to the established standard set out and which was assented to by the members of political parties of the alliance.
“The MoU clearly provides for agreement of all the political Parties before any public endorsement.
“As it turned out eventually, it is obvious that the process was circumvented to achieve a predetermined end.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the SDP will never collapse into any Party as it is the choice of Nigerians in the 2019 elections.
“The SDP has, as a principled and self-respecting Party with a clear vision and sense of mission, resolved to move on with its campaigns to commence the presentation of its Presidential Candidate, H.E Donald Duke and his Running –Mate, Alh. Shehu Musa Gabam to Nigerians across the length and breadth of the country as well as its other candidates for the governorship, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly for the 2019 general elections.
“The campaign flag off which will commence with the zonal flag off will have the South East Geo-political Zone as the first place of call next week and details will soon be made public.
“It is gladdening that some Presidential Candidates of some parties are already discussing concrete collaboration with us.
“The SDP will certainly welcome all those who believe in our philosophy, vision, mission and programmes for the Nigerian people.
“Based on the popularity and acceptability of the SDP and its candidates, the Party has indeed become the generally accepted credible alternative for Nigerians and we are determined to rescue our country from widespread disillusionment and grief, restructure and restore its lost glory.
“The PDP’s approach towards consensus building has now subjected the move to a major setback due to the following breaches of trust and the provisions of the MoU.. It is mainly PDP driven. The PDP runs it as if others must shape in or ship out.
“The PDP runs timelines to suffocate other Parties or to get to a point where events have already overtaken issues; like deadlines at INEC have run out.
“The PDP pressed on with its Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar , appointing his running Mate, DG of Campaign and all positions and, of course, making the selection of any other platform impossible or impracticable however impeccable the platform could be.
“The PDP also displays some form of “ we can do it alone” type of arrogance”, it said
It added, “As Nigeria continues to face the challenges of security of lives, property, individual well-being, social chaos and political uncertainty, economic crisis and widespread domestic and external fears about the future, the SDP is out to reassure all Nigerians and the comity of nations at the regional and international levels that it is fully ready to resolve and rescue the country from the lingering challenges.
“That was one of the resolutions reached at our expanded caucus meeting held at the national headquarters yesterday being the 10th day of December 2018.
“The meeting reviewed the state of the nation, the ongoing debates and controversies among political Parties, especially regarding the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and our Party’s campaign agenda,” it said.