SDP REJECTS ATIKU FOR PRESIDENT, BACKS DUKE

The National Publicity Secretary of the SDP , Mr Alfa Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday at the end of the party’ s expanded caucus meeting .
But the CUPP has described the SDP’ s decision to pull out of the coalition as “ a failed attempt to help the dwindling electoral fortunes of President Buhari . ”
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Mohammed said the SDP had resolved to stick to its presidential candidate , Donald Duke, and his running mate , Shehu Gabam.
He said the SDP believed that the process that led to Atiku ’ s emergence was circumvented to achieve a predetermined end.
He said , “ The SDP resolved that the emergence of a consensus candidate as reported is unacceptable to it because it did not follow due process and did not measure up to the established standard set out and which was assented to by the member 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 .