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Tag: SDP

  • Appeal Court sacks Jerry Gana as SDP presidential candidate

    *Reverses judgment making Gana candidate
    *Asks Gana to pay Duke N500,000 as cost

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has declared ex-Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke as the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    In a unanimous decision by a three-man panel, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, the court set aside the December 14, 2018 judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which had declared Jerry Gana the candidate of the party.

    Read Also; Imo APC expels guber candidate

    The court awarded N500,000 cost against Gana, in favour of Duke.

    Details later.

  • 2019: Gana expresses fears over 1, 400 illegal entry points

     

    Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Professor Jerry Gana on Saturday expressed concerned over the 1, 400 illegal entry points into the country ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The sad development, he said, should be a major source of worry for government and major stakeholders as it may threaten the polls.

    The former Minister of Information spoke in Abuja at the 2019 presidential stakeholder’s summit of the party.

    He vowed to tackle the issue of insecurity and corruption, if voted into power.

    According Gana: “We have every cause to be worried because there are about 1, 400 illegal entry points in Nigeria.

    “Some people are entering Nigeria any day, anytime, and anyhow. I am worried about this.

    “And some people enter with all kinds of things. Insecurity is the major problem in Nigeria.

    “We have poor leadership. The reason why we are not making progress is that there is too much corruption in the land.

    “I will take Nigeria by storm by winning the 2019 presidential election. On the second issue that Nigerians are worried about is the issue of poverty.

    “It is very alarming that people find it difficult to feed especially for the ordinary Nigerians.”

    Gana went on:  “Nigerians are tired of the lies and deception and will not hesitate to vote SDP which stands for equity, justice and fairness into power in 2019.

    “A party that is youth and women friendly and have zero tolerance for corruption.

    “A party like the SDP, which is committed to the welfare and well- being of the masses is what Nigerians are looking for at this time to end all the impunity, gross abuse of due process and massive corruption ravaging this country  to revamp the economy.”

    The summit drew party supporters from across the country.

  • SDP state chairmen reject court’s verdict on Donald Duke

    THE Forum of Social Democratic Party of Nigeria (SDP) state party chairmen has rejected the Abuja High Court’s ruling that sacked Donald Duke as the party’s presidential candidate.

    The state Chairmen, in a statement yesterday, expressed support for the decision of the party’s national leadership to appeal the court’s ruling.

    Chairman of the forum and Delta State SDP Chairman Oke Idawene and the forum’s Secretary-General Abubakar Dogara, in a statement yesterday, said the party would come out stronger from its present situation.

    Idawene and Dogara said the verdict was against the wish and mandate of the party’s delegates, who willingly and overwhelming handed the mandate of the people to Duke at the SDP’s October 6, 2018 Presidential Convention as required by the Constitution  and Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The forum said it would pursue to a logical conclusion the mandate given to Duke by thousands of party members from the 37 states of Nigeria including Abuja.

    The statement reads: “We have been inundated with calls and enquiries from party loyalists and supporters across Nigeria and in the Diaspora since Friday December 14, 2018, when the judgement was delivered.

    “We have reviewed the ruling of the Abuja High court presided over by Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, which nullifies the election of Duke as the presidential candidate of the SDP in line with the Provisions of Article 15;3(ii) of the Constitution of the SDP  2018 as (amended).

    “And we wish to state that the judgment has no basis considering the fact that, the court has no locus standi  to deny and  scuttle the inalienable right of a presidential flag bearer, who was duly elected and returned as the party’s candidate…”

    The statement added: “The forum shall stand by the party leadership and abide by the unanimous decision taken by the party’s delegates and the mandate of the 37 state chapters, which overwhelmingly nominated and returned Duke as the presidential candidate of the SDP during the party’s national convention and presidential primaries.”

  • Candidate sues SDP, INEC for alleged substitution

    Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for Warri Federal Constituency Chief Monday Keme had approached a Warri Federal High Court to seek orders of perpetual injunction to protect his mandate.

    This followed Keme’s suspicions that some party leaders were planning to substitute his name.

    Keme is asking the court to declare him candidate of SDP for Warri Federal Constituency in 2019 elections.

    He is also seeking orders of perpetual injunction to restrain SDP from submitting any other name to INEC for Warri Federal Constituency, and to restrain INEC from accepting or recognising any other name for the constituency.

    The court, however, fixed January 22, to hear the suit.

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    The writ of summons filed by Keme’s lawyers – U.K Gbenebitse, Esq. of T.C. Williams and Co.,  asked the defendants to respond to the summons.

    The suit is demanding “a declaration that the plaintiff is the validly nominated candidate for the first defendant’s ticket for Warri Federal Constituency into the House of Representatives in 2019 elections.

    “An order compelling the first defendant to submit the plaintiff’s name to the second defendant as its candidate for 2019 elections of Warri Federal Constituency into the House of Representatives.

    “An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the first defendant from submitting any other name/candidate to the second defendant as its candidate for 2019 elections for Warri Federal Constituency into the House of Representatives.

    “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the second defendant from accepting/recognising any other name/candidate of the first defendant for Warri Federal Constituency into the House of Representatives.”

  • 2019: Police warns politicians against violence

    The Police on Tuesday warned that any politician in Ebonyi state caught engaging or instigating acts of  violence during the electoral period will be decisively dealt with.

    Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone C, Samuel Ogunjemi who gave the warning in Abakaliki, the  state capital, said that there will be nothing like federal might in the state in the conduct of the election.

    He said that any candidate banking on it to overrun his opponent would be disappointed.

    According to him, the police would play its statutory roles of protecting lives and property in a very neutral and professional manner.

    Ogunjemi spoke at the state police headquarters while addressing stakeholders of the state and various ethnic groups in the state.

    While assuring that the police in the state would do everything possible to ensure there is violent free elections , the AIG urged politicians to play by the rule.

    “Violence will not be tolerated whether from APC, PDP, SDP or Labour party we don’t want violence. Your power is your PVCs, it is the voting power you have. If you like a party, if you like a person or candidate, take your voting card and vote. If it will take the whole of the day for you to cue, do that.

    Read Also: Police arrest suspected traffic robbers

    “If you want to do empowerment, do it now so that the people can vote for you. But it is not for you to create some thugs and think with that you will be able to overrun your opponent and will. The police will not sit idle and watch.

    “If you create problems or you bring thugs, we are going to deal with you mercilessly, very ruthlessly . We are going to deal with you very ruthlessly and we have that instruction and we are going to implement it to the later and we wouldn’t want that to happen here.

    “One of the Chairmen(APC) is here and since he is here I also want to make it  clear that there is nothing like federal might. We are neutral and we are going to remain neutral. Our function is to maintain security; credible, all inclusive, free and fair elections.

    “Without security all these cannot be achieved and that is why you have to corporate with us in the forthcoming elections to make sure the state remain peaceful the way it is”, Ogunjemi said.

    He noted that the police under his watch will not be involved in ballot box snatching  or colluding with anyone to disrupt the electoral process during the general elections.

    The AIG assured that the police will provide adequate security in the elections and will protect voters to ensure they exercise their franchise.

  • 2019 : Ebonyi APC chieftain dumps party, picks SDP governorship ticket

    A House of Representatives Aspirant under the All Progressive Congress, APC, Ndubuisi Chibueze-Agbo, has dumped the party and picked the Governorship ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Mr Chibueze-Ago, a former commissioner of Education under the Chief Martin Elechi administration announced his exit from his former party at a rally held in Ngbo, Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi on Monday.

    At the occasion, he received the SDP ‘s endorsement to fly the party’s flag in 2019 governorship election in Ebonyi.

    According to him, his decision to quit his former party, APC is due to alleged injustice and lack of internal party democracy which has bedevilled the party.

    “Truly my resignation from my former party, the APC is because the party is bedevilled with lack of internal democracy, injustice and fraught with irregularities, calumny and political atrocities.

    “We made personal sacrifices, formed a merger and paddled a common boat propelled with a vision to emancipate the good people of our dear state but some political ‘Judases’ in a bid to push their own selfish interest betrayed our trust.

    “They dashed the hope of our people and returned vanity for our collective costly labour and efforts.

    “I became disenchanted and disappointed at the lack of healthy party politics and healthy internal party democracy in APC; the holllnwness of the party executive, deliberate and wanton disregard to party rules and guidelines.

    “Indeed, the APC we laboured for at the risk of our personal comfors and investmentents is now converted to an ‘auction’ market where the highest bidder takes it all.

    “Consequently, things fell apart in the party and those of us whose vision for a better Ebonyi cannot be shattered left the party not for personal gains but for the over-riding interest of our dear state”, he said.

    The SDP gubernatorial candidate explained that he was in the party to champion the cause of repositioning Ebonyi for the good and wellbeing of the citizenry.

    “Today and now, I sincerely offer myself to you for your indispensable support as we make our vision, our mission and our dream a reality of forming the next government of Ebonyi where I shall serve you as the governor”, he added.

    Chibueze-Agbo said that his government would focus on five cardinal areas including education, health, security, agriculture, youths and women empowerment if elected.

    The state chairman of SDP while handing the party’s flag to Chibueze-Agbo described him as a bridge-builder and versatile politician with requisite knowledge and leadership experience to deliver democracy dividends to the people of Ebonyi.

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    The SDP governorship candidate contested for the primary election of Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal constituency under the platform of APC for the 2019 election.

    After the primaries, Mr Agbo also petitioned the APC national chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole dated wherein he condemned the brazen abuse and compromise of the party primaries in Ebonyi.

    He also lamented the killing of seven party members at Onueke in Ezza South local government area during the party’s national assembly primaries.

  • Gana loses out as SDP affirms Duke as presidential candidate

    The Social Democratic Party(SDP) yesterday affirmed ex-Governor Donald Duke as its presidential candidate.

    It said Duke was validly nominated at the party’s October 6 national convention and his name already submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The party said ex-Minister of Information  Prof. Jerry Gana congratulated, hugged and wished Duke well after the shadow election.

    Party’s Media and Publicity Director Yemi Akinbode in a statement yesterday “noted” the statement by Dr. Ike Neliaku, the Consultant to the Prof Jerry Gana’s campaign group but disagreed with the references to the SDP Constitution as “premature and misplaced” and “frowns” at recent misrepresentations by his statements that  Southsouth candidates were barred from participating in the primary.

    The party said it would not take up issues with Gana but will inform Nigerians how Duke emerged.

    “The current cry to ‘screen him out’ or ‘disqualify him’ was not raised during the process adding that Duke emerged through a transparent process and delegates were never directed to vote for any presidential aspirant.

    The statement added: “There were two aspirants from the South-South Zone and three aspirants from the North Central Zone. His Excellency, Donald Duke was the first person to submit the nomination form at a widely publicised event and no one ever protested until he won the primary.

    “All the four other contestants including Prof. Gana actively participated in all the preliminary and final stages of the presidential primary and SDP did not issue any statement directing its members to vote for or against any presidential aspirant from any particular geographic zone.

    “The party understands that Gana was very disappointed by the outcome of the primary and sent a high-ranking delegation headed by National Chairman Chief Olu Falae to visit and explain to him, to assuage his feelings and appreciate his contributions to the party.

    “The SDP and its leaders duly appreciate the significant contributions that the elder statesman Gana has put to the development of the party since he joined six months ago.

    “Above all, they had privately and publicly appreciated the tremendous contributions that he has made to Nigeria over the last 45 years.”

  • 2019: Donald Duke emerges SDP Presidential candidate

    Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has emerged as Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2019 general election.

    Duke polled 812 votes to defeat his close rival, former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, who polled 611 votes at the party’s National Convention held at Old Parade Ground, Abuja.

    The Convention Returning Officer, Dr Abdul Isiaq, declaring the results of the presidential primary election at the early hour of Sunday, said  Mr. John Dara, former Special Assistant to  Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma, former Defence Minister, scored 104 votes.

    He also announced that former Ambassador and former Minister, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher
    polled 72 votes; former Ambassador, Felix Osakwe scored 10 votes, while the number of invalid votes was 63.

    Duke in his acceptance speech, described his emergence as collective victory  for all aspirants that participated in the contest, as well for the party and the nation.

    He said that primary was just a step in the contest, saying he will go through the nation to campaign and sell the party and it’s polices to citizens.

    Duke called for the support of all aspirants, the party officials and Nigerians to win 2019 general election, saying “we will reawaken in Nigerians that yearning that we are destined to be, but we cannot do this alone.”

    He said that Nigeria was not a divided  nation but a country of common purpose.

    “What divides us is inadequacy and wants, because in the face of this survival of the fittest comes in, which ought not to be so because there is more than enough for everyone.”

    He said if Nigerians were productive and abide by rules and regulations , the nation would grow from strength to strength.

    “This is what good governance is all about and that is what I stand for. “(NAN)

  • Cross River: SDP affirms Ekpo as gubernatorial candidate

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Cross River State has affirmed Mr Eyo Ekpo as its gubernatorial candidate for next year’s elections.

    Ekpo, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, though the sole aspirant of the party, emerged through votes in direct primaries conducted across the 196 wards in the state.

    The election, which was supervised by the SDP governorship primary committee from the National, led by Dr Benson Ogbonna, was peaceful, as delegates cast their votes in the presence of security operatives and representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Ekpo, who expressed gratitude for the mandate to be the governorship candidate of the party, said that the mission to recover and restore Cross River State was not negotiable.

    He said, “This statewide affirmation of my candidacy signifies the confidence you have in my ability to rescue Cross River from the downward spiral currently plaguing every sector.

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    “It is the vision of the SDP to provide you people with the dividends of democracy and I pledge to do just that; recover and restore Cross River State. I urge you all to join me in this vision and make it our collective responsibility to rebrand our dear State.”

    He said the SDP was determined to sweep across the State to every household and community to get people especially the electorates on board.

    The State Chairman of the party, Eni Ikpi, expressed satisfaction with the turnout for the exercise across the state.

  • Bello gets Adamawa SDP governorship ticket

    A former member of the House of Representatives,  Chief Emmanuel Bello has been elected the Adamawa State governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Emmanuel Bello who was the sole governorship aspirant of the SDP in the state,  got the formal endorsement of the party at a governorship primary Monday evening in Yola.

    According to the Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Mr Chris Njoku who announced the result, Bello was confirmed for the party ticket by 634 of 783 delegates, explaining that 783 delegates were accredited for the primary election.

    In his acceptance speech,  Bello urged members of the party to work towards his election as governor come 2019.

    Read Also: 2019: Don tasks INEC, political parties on credible elections

    He said, he would ensure social emancipation of youths through employment  and linkages to entrepreneurial opportunities, which according to him, would in turn boost security.

    “Where there is employment and social integration,  there is engagement and so no one will be available for thuggery and other actions that threaten security, ” he said.