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.”