SDP chairmen warn El-Rufai, new members against hijacking structure

The Forum of Social Democratic Party Chairmen on Thursday warned former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as well as new and prospective members, to abide by the party’s constitution and desist from seeking to change the party leadership or its existing structure.

Lagos SDP chairman, Femi Olaniyi, stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, with 25 members in attendance.

The state leaders also gave the National Chairman of the SDP, Shehu Gabam, the National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye and all the members of the party’s National Working Committee a vote of confidence, saying they have not failed in their respective duties.

Validview Network reports that a gale of defection by politicians from the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and Peoples Redemption Party in the last two months.

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Aside from El-Rufai, a renowned entertainer and former member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Obinna Simon, popularly known as MC Tagwaye as well as some ex-governorship candidates of the PRP such as Emiyare Etete (Rivers), Chris Agu (Enugu), Anthony Umeh (Anambra) and Abdulkareem Mustapha (Kwara) have also defected to the SDP.

But, according to Olaniyi, with or without an influx of new converts, they are not seeking to change the leadership of the party or alter its logo and manifesto.

He said, “We warmly welcome the influx of new members to our party, including prominent politicians from across the country, and we are committed to collaborating with them to ensure victory in upcoming elections. We acknowledge that some structural adjustments may be necessary to accommodate them.

“However, fundamental issues such as changes to the party’s name, logo