SDP dissociates from opposition’s choice of Atiku as consensus candidate

Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dissociated itself from the adoption of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag-bearer, Atiku Abubakar, as the consensus candidate of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

The leaders of the 46-member CUPP had announced Atiku on Wednesday as the coalition’s consensus candidate for the 2019 presidential election. CUPP spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, explained that Atiku was chosen because he “towers above” other candidates in the coalition.

But the decision drew the ire of some CUPP members like the SDP and National Conscience Party (NCP), who claim that the choice of Atiku was not collective.

SDP said: “We hereby state unequivocally that the SDP is not a party to this arrangement. Although we were initially part of CUPP, the understanding was that each member party, having elected its presidential candidate, would then sit in committee to select a consensus presidential candidate, running mate and other officers of the campaign committee.

“Contrary to this spirit of understanding, one of the political parties elected its presidential candidate and without consulting the CUPP went ahead to nominate its running mate and indeed all other officers of the campaign organisation.”

“This not only negated the understanding between the parties but also abrogated the agreement itself.”The party urged its members and the general public who have made up their minds to vote for the SDP candidate as the next president of Nigeria to stay true to their convictions about Donald Duke and the SDP “as the best options to take Nigeria out of its present situation and restore the glory of our great nation.”
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