Former Cross Rivers State Governor, Donald Duke, has insisted that he is still in the race for the presidency despite his party’s endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) had on Thursday after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja backed Mr Buhari’s re-election bid.
Mr Duke has been in a long battle with Prof Jerry Gana over the party’s presidential ticket.
The former governor, however, on Thursday said he would continue with his ambition for the presidency as the recognised flag bearer of the party.
“This afternoon, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Social Democrats Party (SDP) came up with a decision to endorse the APC and its candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, for the February 16th Presidential election. This decision has arisen according to the party, as a result of protracted legal squabbles within the party which has made the party unable to commence a decent campaign.
“Regardless and for the avoidance of doubt, I Donald Duke, remain on the ballot and the candidate of the SDP as recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“My decision to run on an untainted political platform rather than on one which I was a founding member is grounded on a desire to afford our electorate and indeed our nation a clean break, options and alternatives to her current gladiators.
“For the SDP NEC to thereby endorse the APC or any other party is rather unfortunate and betrays in my opinion, the desire of the vast majority of our party members and Nigerians credible alternatives to our nation’s leadership,” he said.
