The Abia State chapter of the Social Democratic Party has dissociated itself from the insinuation that it has been absorbed by the Peoples Democratic Party in order to support its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2019 election.
The position of the party was contained in a statement by its Abia State chapter spokesman, Ikechukwu Osondu, on Monday.
The party said it has traced the insinuation to Daniel Okoroafor, a former chairman of the party in Umunneochi local government area of Abia State.
Okoroafor, who was accused of being behind the purported PDP-SDP deal and other anti-party activities, was thus suspended.
Osondu said in the statement: “Mr. Daniel Okoroafor, former chairman of Umunneochi local government was expelled by the SWC on the allegations of anti-party activities, mistrust and actions capable of destabilizing the party in the local government.
“Our attention has been drawn to an unclassified online story published by dailyadvent .com titled: ‘Atiku receive Bigget Boost Ahead of 2019 As Entire SDP Party Joins PDP,’ sponsored by Mr. Daniel Okoraforo, the former SDP chairman in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
“Okoraforo’s anti-party activities, which has been the reason while very notable and credible politicians in the local government have refused joined the party was reviewed and studied by the disciplinary committee set up by the SWC to ensure that justice is done. The report of the disciplinary committee submitted to the SWC and also forwarded to the party’s headquarters in Abuja shows that Okoraforo has been a stumbling block in the progress of the party in Abia State.
“As a matter of fact, Okoroafor has turned himself to a monster since his return from the party’s National Convention in Abuja in October. His ambition to make millions of naira from the just concluded convention, which was frustrated by the SWC was the last stroke that broke the camel’s back.
“Okoraforo’s latest claim that he has joined the PDP with over 500 members of the party is a lie from the pit of hell and an attempt to dupe unsuspecting members of the public who he may want to believe that he is a popular politician. He has no value, no pedigree and he is a cog in the wheel of party progress.
“The general public is herby advised to disregard the lies by Okoroafor that the entire local government executives of the party have defected to the PDP with him. The statement said.
“How can the SDP that is waxing stronger across Nigeria, a party that has been adjudged by both local and international observers to have conducted the best convention in recent Nigerian political history be the one whose members will defect to the PDP, which suffered a serious defeat in 2015 or other political parties that are laced with all kind of crises? The story doesn’t just add-up.
“The party therefore advised all its members in Umunneochi local government area of Abia state and beyond to disregard any other stories by people it called unscrupulous and disgruntled politicians, who are nothing but mischief makers.
“We would like to advise our members to be focused especially at this period when political jobbers like Okorafoor are out to make quick money because of their belief in money politics.
“The SDP is a discipline and focussed political part with decent, loyal and dedicated Nigerians who are poised to rebuild a strong viral and prosperous society where equity, fairness and prosperity shall reign.”
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