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.

PUNCH Online 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.

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, insignia, slogan, or any drastic alterations to the party’s constitution or manifesto must not be undertaken lightly. Any such changes should be thoroughly discussed among NEC members before any action is taken.

“Our democratically elected structures of the SDP at the state and national levels must not be truncated or dissolved to appease new joiners or at the whims of any individuals or interests. Elected officials should be allowed to serve out their terms.”

According to Olaniyi, new members must be admitted and registered through the SDP internal structures, led by the state chairmen, with a warning that they are not mandated to register or solely declare themselves as members of the party.

When asked if they are scared of El-Rufai and other heavyweights coming into the SDP and hijacking the party, the Lagos party chairman said that they are more concerned about certain impostors creating chaos in the party.



https://punchng.com/sdp-chairmen-warn-el-rufai-new-members-against-hijacking-structure/