THE Wole Adesina-led Social Democratic Party (SDP) has firmly declared that the party is neither for sale nor lease to any political coalition or movement.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Alfa Mohammed, stressed that the SDP would not be used as a platform for launching attacks on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or to promote any coalition that lacks a credible alternative agenda for Nigeria’s transformation.
“The SDP National Executive Committee unequivocally states that the party is not for sale or lease to any group, and will not be part of any anti-government plots or coalition that lacks a clear alternative agenda for Nigeria’s transformation,” the statement read.
Mohammed said the party’s decision to withdraw from any such alliance was driven by past experience, referring to the events of 2019 when a group of disgruntled members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Prof. Jerry Gana, infiltrated the SDP and attempted to hijack its leadership.
“We have been through this before. In 2019, aggrieved defectors from the PDP joined us and tried to seize control of the party. We will not allow history to repeat itself,” Mohammed added.
“The betrayal of the SDP leadership led to the unceremonious resignation of the then National Chairman of the party, Oba Olu Falae, plunging the party in to leadership tussle which culminated in to the on going legal fireworks.
“While the authentic SDP National Executive Committee now led by Chief Adesina draws its legitimacy from being the direct offshoot of Oba Olu Falae led National Executive Committee that received the the PDP defectors in to the party, the second faction, now being led by Shehu Gabam relies on a wrongly procured INEC recognition that has remained a subject of litigation since 2019.
“Flowing from above, the SDP National Executive Committee unequivocally states that the party is not for sale or lease to any group, and will not be part of any anti-government plots or coalition that lacks a clear alternative agenda for Nigeria’s transformation.”
Mohammed added that the party will continue to engage the government constructively and hold it accountable, but will not join of any self centered coalition aimed at derailing the government of the day and denying Nigerians the benefits of their voting in the 2023 presidential election.
The statement called on SDP leaders at all levels to resist any attempt to usurp their leadership and report such actions to the appropriate authorities, while leaving the party’s doors open for genuinely intentioned new members.
He called on members and supporters to remain calm and patient, assuring them that efforts are underway to restore INEC recognition to the legitimate National Executive Committee they elected, and that further updates on the situation will be provided in due course.
