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Tag: SDP

  • Falae resigns as SDP chairman, quits partisan politics

    Falae resigns as SDP chairman, quits partisan politics

    Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Chief Olu Falae has resigned as chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Friday because of old age.

    The Director, Media & Publicity of SDP, Yemi Akinbode, said his resignation was not new to the leadership of the party.

    His resignation came hours after the party leaders adopted All Progressives Congress (APC)’s President Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate for the February 16 presidential election.

    Falae stated in his resignation letter that his ailing health is part of the reasons for his resignation.

    But Akinbode said Falae was part of the party leadership that adopted Buhari as SDP’s presidential candidate.

    He said: “He stepped down as chairman of the party. He ought to have stepped down on September 31, 2018.

    “That was when he clocked 80 years of age. But I do not know what caused the delay.

    “He had earlier made it known that when he clocks 80 he will quit politics. It is not a new thing.

    “I feel that he was trying to wait after the election tactically to quit. But he did that now. And he cannot deny the adoption of President Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the SDP because he was part of the entire process.“

  • Adamawa SDP rejects adoption of Buhari as party’s presidential candidate

    The Adamawa State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has distanced itself from the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for next week’s presidential election.

    The chairman of the SDP in Adamawa State, Mr. John Muva, said during a press briefing at the state secretariat of the party in Yola Friday that members of the party in the state will have nothing to do with Buhari come February 16.

    The NEC of the SDP in Abuja had endorsed Buhari on Thursday, attributing its decision to the “lingering legal battle” between the winner of the SDP presidential primaries, Donald Duke, and his major challenger, Jerry Gana, but the Adamawa SDP chairman insisted Friday that the stalemate over the party’s presidential candidacy is not a sufficient reason to mix the loyalty of members among different political parties and candidates when elections come.

    “We are not part of that endorsement and we were not a part of the meeting held in Abuja to decide that endorsement. We respect the rule of law and the constitution of the Social Democratic Party, but the differences between Donald Duke and Jerry Gana cannot put our state chapter in jeopardy. We are not part of that endorsement,” John Muva insisted.

    He said that in Adamawa State SDP members are not thinking of supporting Buhari or Atiku (of the People’s Democratic Party) for the presidency but of supporting the state SDP governorship candidate, Emmanuel Bello, and other party candidates at the other levels.

    “We won’t mix things up in Adamawa State. We can’t do SDP for National Assembly election, Buhari’s party in presidential election, and SDP in other elections. It is SDP top to bottom,” Muva asserted.

  • SDP withdraws from Presidential Race, adopts Buhari

    SDP withdraws from Presidential Race, adopts Buhari

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has announced its withdrawal from the Feb. 16, presidential election and adopts the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, for the poll.

    This was part of the resolutions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja on Thursday.

    According to the NEC, “we cannot campaign, we cannot do anything because of the protracted legal issue and we feel that it is impeccable to technically withdraw from the presidential election.

    “We want to focus on the National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assemblies election for which we have fielded candidates across the country.

    “We are therefore adopting the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, as our preferred candidate for the Feb. 16 election.”

  • SDP crisis: Gana throws out VP offer, insists on running for president

    SDP crisis: Gana throws out VP offer, insists on running for president

    The embattled former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana on Saturday disclosed that he is in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), to win the forthcoming 2019 presidential election and not to be running mate to former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke.

    Gana, at the unveiling of his campaign programme tagged ‘SWIFT’ said the leadership of SDP would not want to take the decision of him accepting to become running mate to Duke, if the party wants to win election.

    The development is following the judgment of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT), high Court in Maitama a week ago declaring Jerry Gana, the winner of the presidential primary election of the SDP conducted on October 6 this year.

    The party had declared a former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, winner of the election and its flag bearer for the 2019 presidential election.

    Duke at the primary polled 812 votes, while Gana had 611.

    Gana who was not satisfied with the outcome of the primary went to court seeking to be declared the winner in line with the zoning and rotation formula of the party’s constitution.

    He promised to unify Nigeria and also obey the rule of law if he wins the presidential election in 2019.

    His words: “I do not mind at all but, the party will definitely want a strategy, that is a winning strategy. Let us be very realistic the South South have just concluded a turn of the presidency during former President Goodluck Jonathan, if Nigerians are to be real they will know that it is too soon to have a presidential candidate running for an election from that zone.

    “The other zones of Nigeria would also want to have the vote, so if you want to win election the party will not do that. But if they want to just play politics they would do that. I am not for that I am for winning election.”

    Gana vowed that securing Nigeria and its people will be the primary responsibility of his administration if elected.

    He said: “we have identified unresolved conflicts, realities of injustice, prebendalism, ethno-religious crises, kidnapping, militancy, banditry, armed criminality, defective state structure and failure of governance. These have resulted in the negative backlashes and security challenges in our nation. Accordingly, we shall strengthen security of life and property to facilitate a qualitative development of the nation; reconcile the Nigerian peoples for better harmony, understanding and unity; and restructure the Federation for prosperity, equity and progress.

    “We cannot continue to live in denial that we are not a crisis-torn, conflict triggered and deeply divided people and expect the same people to build a progressive nation. The reality is that the country is at war with itself. We should take advantage of our heterogeneous nature, exploit the strength and synergy of our diversity to build a strong, united and progressive Nigeria. This is possible! It can be done! And we are determined to do it! Unfortunately, we have emphasized our differences and promoted the things that divide us, rather than those things that unite us. These matters have become sources of tension within and amongst the various peoples of Nigeria.”

     

  • 2019: Gana dares Falae, set to launch SDP presidential campaign

    2019: Gana dares Falae, set to launch SDP presidential campaign

    The Prof. Jerry Gana Presidential Campaign Team, known as G19, says it is going ahead with its planned commencement of Gana’s 2019 election campaign.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja on Dec. 14, declared that Gana and not Mr Donald Duke, was the rightful Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2019 election.

    Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf had held that the regulations contained in the party’s constitution were binding on every member and must be obeyed.

    The judge held that the zoning and rotation formula as contained in the party’s constitution stipulated that both the chairman of the party and the flag bearer should not come from the same zone.

    However, the National Chairman of the party, Chief Olu Falae, on Friday appealed to all members of the party not to attend any of the events being scheduled by Prof. Gana and his Presidential campaign committee pending the outcome of the appeal in the earlier judgement.

    In a swift reaction to Falae, Dr Ike Neliaku, the G19/Gana Campaign Director-General, said: “ the Gana Presidential Campaign train is set to leave the station tomorrow December 29 (Saturday), and will run swiftly to redeem the time and arrive its destination successfully and unhindered.

    “Therefore, all the media organizations and guests invited to the Media Presentation are joyfully expected to be at the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Sheraton Hotel and Towers Abuja by 11.30 a.m.,” neliaku said in a statement in Lagos.

    He said that they were prepared to win the election and help other serious candidates of the party to win their elections as well.

    “We did not seek the party tickets to become merchants, traders and transationalists, we are too serious a community of people to engage in such.

    By the grace of God, we are running the race to win and determined to secure resounding victories for the Party.

    “ Considering the unmitigated embarrassment and sliding fortunes of the party in the last three months, I wonder if it is not time for the majority of party faithful who love the SDP to arise and rescue her from the tyranny of the minority who have received a mandate from outside of the arty hierarchy to muscle and cage the elegant stallion,” he said.

    The DG explained that following the High Court Judgment in favour of Prof. Gana as the 2019 Presidential Candidate of the SDP, and in the spirit of “our avowed commitment to Party Constitution, Gana wrote the National Chairman on Dec. 17 to inform him of the judgment and sought audience on Dec. 19 to brief the National Working Committee (NWC) on the agenda and roadmap of his campaign thrust.

    ” The National Chairman, through the Deputy National Chairman South, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, responded on December 18, conveying his inability to be in Abuja as requested.

    “On December 19, Prof Gana personally submitted his nomination form to the Party which was received by the Deputy National Chairman (North), Dr Abdul Isiaq and other members of the NWC on behalf of the party for onward transmission to INEC, in line with the court Judgment and order.

    “Dr Isiaq announced at the public occasion that the party will obey the court order. To our surprise, we understand that the national chairman, at the last minute, instructed the party not to proceed with the form to INEC, which is a flagrant disobedience to the court judgment.

    “After waiting for about 10 days without any information from the national chairman on moving forward, and being under tremendous pressure to commence campaigns in the light of limited time, Prof Gana wrote a second letter dated Dec. 27.

    The letter notified the National Chairman of his intention to unveil his campaign vision to the Media on Dec. 29, and meet with Stakeholders on Jan. 5, 2019.

    While expecting the national chairman’s response to the letter, our attention was this afternoon drawn to a press statement reportedly issued by the national chairman, on the subject matter of our letter.

    “To say the least, we are shocked at the national chairman’s sudden shift of position, after making commitment to both our candidate and other legitimate stakeholders, that as Social Democrats he and by extension, the party, were obliged to obey the court judgment and orders; and would expectedly work with the position of the court.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the reliefs granted in consequence of our case by the FCT High Court are all declaratory, which could only be vitiated by a contrary judgment of an appeal court.

    “It speaks volumes that our National Chairman would prefer an Appeal process, yet to commence and determined, in total disregard to a subsisting valid judgment and order by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    ”We have consulted with other leaders of the Party who represent about 90% of both the NWC and the NEC of the Party, and arrived at the conclusion that the views of the National Chairman are not in tandem with the majority.

    “ Unequivocally as the DG of G19, we will rather stand with the Rule of Law, which is a cardinal element of our campaign thrust and our great party,” he added.

  • 2019: Don’t attend Gana’s presidential campaigns, Falae tells SDP members

    2019: Don’t attend Gana’s presidential campaigns, Falae tells SDP members

    The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Olu Falae, has appealed to all members of the party not to attend any of the events being scheduled by Prof. Jerry Gana and his Presidential Campaign Committee.

    Falae, in a statement he issued on Friday in Abuja, said that doing so might amount to contempt of the court.

    The chairman said that he had received a letter dated Dec. 27 from Gana seeking his leave as SDP national chairman to ” unveil the vision and Programme ” of his Presidential Campaign.

    He said that Gana in the letter was also inviting him as “Chief Host” at both the “unveiling” programme scheduled for Saturday Dec. 29, and at the “Summit of Stakeholders planned for Saturday Jan. 5, 2019.

    He recalled that earlier correspondence from Gana made it clear that he based the proposals on the judgment of the FCT High Court dated Dec. 14, 2018.

    Falae said that the counsel of all the five defendants in the case (including Party SDP), Wole Olanipekun & Co, had already appealed to the Court of Appeal against that judgement.

    “We have also, through our Counsel, filed a motion at the Court of Appeal, praying for certain reliefs including Stay of execution of the judgment of the High Court and injunctive reliefs against Prof. Jerry Gana, pending the determination of the Appeal.

    “All the relevant processes have been served on Prof. Jerry Gana’s Counsel.

    “In the light of the foregoing we cannot and should not attend any of the events being scheduled by Prof. Jerry Gana and his Campaign Committee as it will amount to a breach of the court process and may amount to contempt of Court.

    “I appeal to all Party officials at all levels, leaders and members to stay calm and refrain from participating in actions designed to pre-empt the courts. We must remain loyal to the Party which is more important than any of us.

    “We are all one party and we are all united.’’

    The party had earlier declared former Governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke, as its flag bearer for the 2019 General Elections.

    The party declared Duke as winner of its primary election; that he polled 812 votes while Gana got 611.

    Gana, however, went to court seeking that it should declare him the winner in line with the zoning and rotation formula of the party’s constitution.

    The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja on Friday Dec. 14 declared Gana as the rightful Candidate of SDP in the 2019 election.

    In his judgement, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf held that the regulations contained in the party’s constitution were binding on every member and must be obeyed.

    The judge held that the zoning and rotation formula as contained in the party’s constitution stipulated that both the chairman of the party and the flag bearer should not come from the same zone.

    It would be recalled that Gana on Dec. 19 paid courtesy visit to the party headquarters, calling on the SDP leadership to complete his nomination process with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in line with the recent court order.

    He also sought the party leaders’ approval of his campaign policy to enable him to begin his campaign.

     

  • 2019: 36 SDP state chairmen reject Gana, insist on Duke as presidential candidate

    2019: 36 SDP state chairmen reject Gana, insist on Duke as presidential candidate

    The 36 state party chairmen of the Social Democratic Party, including that of the Federal Capital Territory have rejected the Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf-led court order which declared Prof. Jerry Gana as the presidential candidate of the party.

    An FCT High Court had on Friday declared Gana the winner of the presidential primary of the SDP conducted on October 6, over alleged violation of the party’s constitution.

    Specifically, the court ruled that SDP’s National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, and the presidential candidate, Mr Donald Duke, are from the southern part of the country.

    Duke had won the October 6 primary with 812 votes, while Gana polled 611, but the former Minister of Information had approached the court to declare him the winner on the grounds of zoning and rotation formula contained in the party’s constitution.

    But the chairmen, in a statement jointly issued on Saturday by its Forum’s Chairman, Oke Idawene and Secretary, Abubakar Dogara, insisted that the embattled Duke remained the presidential candidate of the party for the 2019 election.

    The chairmen said the court’s ruling was an act of gross injustice, unconstitutional, null and void, adding that it will not see the light of the day.

    The statement read, “The party shall abide by the unanimous decision taken by the party’s delegates and the mandates of the 36 state chapters and the FCT when they convincingly and overwhelmingly voted for Mr. Donald Duke in the October 6, 2018, national presidential primaries of the party.

    “The mandate given to Donald Duke as the party’s presidential candidate is sacred, supreme and so remained sacrosanct as the will and ultimate decision of party members and leadership which no court can abort.”

    The Forum said it would use all available legal and judicial processes to protect its mandate and ensure that the will of the people prevailed.

    “We wish to use this medium to assure the general public, especially party members to remain calm and steadfast in their support and goodwill for the party and its presidential candidate towards the actualisation of the vision of the Party to rescue Nigeria through the 2019 General elections.

    “The SDP is working within the ambiance of the law to vacate the order of the Abuja court where Prof Gana is trying to pervert and arrest justice through his unlawful claims.

    “Against this backdrop, our legal team has filed an appeal against the order of the High Court at the Appeal Court in Abuja. Therefore, we want to appeal to all party members across the country to continue with their party activities and campaigns with utmost decorum, decency, and orderliness,” the forum explains.

     

  • 2019: Donald Duke reacts to court judgement removing him as SDP presidential candidate

    The Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP), Donald Duke, says he will appeal the judgement, removing him as the party’s presidential flag bearer.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday declared Jerry Gana, a former Nigerian Minister of Information, as the presidential candidate of the SDP.

    Duke had been declared as the presidential candidate of the party after the primary election held in October 2018 in which Mr Gana was also an aspirant.

    However, Gana had instituted a case against the result in court, basing his case on the zoning and rotation formula of the party.

    Giving his ruling, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf said: “In this instance, the party’s Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, is from the South and Duke is from the South too; the law is clear; there is nothing to write in-between.

    “The law has crystallised that political parties should abide by the regulations which they have made by themselves.

    “The claimant laid sufficient evidence to have the judgment in his favour; it is a clear violation of the party’s constitution; the court cannot wave right over illegality.”

    “Duke’s votes were declared null and void and the judge declared that Gana was the winner of the election.

    “The SDP was also ordered to forward Gana’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) as its candidate for the 2019 general election.

    Duke told journalists in Lagos that: “While we await a copy of the judgement for a detailed review, it is imperative we reiterate our constitutionally backed belief.

    “Every Nigerian who meets the legal requirement is entitled to contest for the office of the President.”

    “Any law that seeks to curtail or subvert that right under any guise is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.

    “The delegates of our great party at its convention in October, overwhelmingly elected me as their presidential Flag-bearer

    “Any attempt to subvert their wishes through the instrumentality of the courts will be challenged.

    “As a Law abiding citizen, I urge my supporters and members to remain calm as we are confident that the decision of the Court will be upturned on appeal.

    “We are optimistic that the Appellate Court will reach a decision that reinforces the essential tenets of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    He said his optimism was in line with the wishes of members of the Social Democratic Party.

  • 2019: SDP confirms Junaid’s exit, names new running mate to Donald Duke

    2019: SDP confirms Junaid’s exit, names new running mate to Donald Duke

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has formalised the substitution of its 2019 Presidential Candidate’s running mate, Dr Mohammed Junaid with Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, who is also the National Secretary of the party.

    SDP National Publicity Secretary, Alfa Mohammed, who gave the confirmation on Thursday in Abuja, said that the substitution was done long ago.

    He said that Junaid’s substitution was subjected to deliberation at the party’s leadership level which he was a member.

    Mohammed said the consensus was that Junaid should step down as running mate to the SDP Presidential Candidate, Donald Duke, for strategic reasons.

    “Hence, as a genuine party man, he voluntarily stepped down and thereafter signed all the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) forms required to perfect the substitution process.

    “He remains one of our highly respected leaders the party is proud to have.

    “Meanwhile, the substitution which was done long ago now has Shehu Musa Gabam from the North East as our vice presidential candidate,” he said.

  • 2019: Tough time for Donald Duke as running mate quits, resigns as SDP vice chair

    2019: Tough time for Donald Duke as running mate quits, resigns as SDP vice chair

    Dr. Junaid Mohammed, running mate of the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr. Donald Duke, has stepped down his vice presidential ambition.

    Junaid, who is one of the fiercest critics of President Muhammadu Buhari, said he decided to step down because of the “many hassles of the SDP.”

    He said he also stepped down as the deputy national chairman of the SDP and had written letters to the chairman of the party, Chief Olu Falae; and Duke.

    Junaid said, “It is true. I stepped down a while ago because of the many hassles.

    “I also resigned as deputy national chairman. I have written to Chief Olu Falae and Mr. Donald Duke. However, I have not resigned from the party.”

    When asked if he would be supporting President Muhammadu Buhari to ‘take Nigeria to the next level’, Junaid laughingly responded, “You know I will never do such.”