SDP files an appeal to retain Donald Duke as its presidential candidate
The Social Democratic Party, SDP has filed an appeal against the high court ruling that sacked Donald Duke as the presidential candidate of the party in favour of Jerry Gana.
The National Chairman of the party, Chief Olu Falae and the Secretary, Alhaji Shehu Gabam with the entire leadership of SDP rejected the court ruling that ordered them to immediately adopt Jerry Gana as the party’s flagbearer.
SDP argued in their suit at the Federal Court of Appeal that the primary elections that declared Donald Duke as the party’s candidate in October, 2018 was devoid of any irregularities that is claimed by Jerry Gana.
Prof. Gana had challenged the outcome of the primary election through the Federal High Court where he alleged that the party had unfairly chosen Duke over him at the expense of the party’s zoning formula.
The court had ruled the case in favour of Gana and directed SDP to officially recognize him as their legitimate candidate, and to also forward his name to INEC for regularization.
Instead of following the directive, SDP is seeking an injunction from the appeal court to retain Donald Duke as their bonafide candidate in what seems to be the final act before the presidential elections in February, 2019.
It is worthy of note that INEC’s rules make it impossible for any party to make changes to their submission in less than two months to the election, and this has taken away any opportunity of switching Duke with Prof. Gana even if the SDP wanted to do so.
