2023: No merger talks with Tinubu, Atiku – SDP

The Presidential Campaign Council of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has denied that its presidential candidate, Prince Adebayo Adebayo, was in merger talks or stepping down from the 2023 election in favour of any other candidate.

The Director-General of the council, Solomon Dalung, said this in Abuja at a news conference.

This is as the party equally raised the alarm over alleged plans to arrest and discredit its presidential candidate based on trumped up charges.

According to Dalung, state agents are recruiting people to generate false allegations against Adebayo.

He said the motive behind the plot was to embarrass him ahead of the February 25 presidential election.

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Dalung, who is also a candidate for the House of Representatives seat in Plateau State, said it would be treasonable for Adebayo to contemplate stepping down from the presidential race as he is in it to win.

He cautioned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against the use of national assets for party rallies, campaigns or using them to promote its candidates across the country.

Dalung, who was a minister of sports during President Muhammadu Buhari’s first tenure, also urged Mr President to live by his words of promising to deliver free and fair 2023 elections.

He urged Nigerians not to vote on sentiment but vote for candidates with practical solutions, which he said the SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo represents.

“Our candidate (Adebayo) has practical solutions to challenges confronting Nigeria and is already engaging Nigerians with practical solutions to problems of poverty, unemployment, insecurity and others.

“The SDP is not worried by rented crowd turning to violence. Our method of engagement fundamentally differs from what is being employed by others. We have gotten considerable approval from Nigerians who believe in our presidential candidate and his practical solutions to the problems of Nigeria.

“Nigerians should not vote for any president based on sentiments, whether on religion or ethnicity. We should elect a president that has practical solutions to our problems,” Dalung said.