A Second Republic lawmaker, Dr Junaid Mohammed and the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, have joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The duo were sighted on Thursday in Abuja when the chairman of the SDP National Steering Committee, Professor Jerry Gana, who recently joined the party, presented new members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
According to the list of the NWC members read by Prof. Gana, Chief Olu Falae remained the SDP National Chairman, while Dr. Junaid Mohammed is National Vice Chairman, North-west.
The membership of the party’s NWC also includes Dr Abdul Ahmed Isiaq, Deputy National Chairman; Shehu Musa Gabam, National Secretary; Sen. Ebezezer Ikeyina, National Vice Chairman, South-east; Barrister Supo Sonibare, National Vice Chairman, South-west; and Sen. E.B Henshaw, National Vice chairman, South-south.
Other NWC members are Barrister Joseph Abu, National Legal Adviser; Chief Nnamdi Clarkson, National Treasurer; Barrister Emeka Atuma, National Organising Secretary; Kehinde Ayoola, National Financial Secretary; Alh.Alfa Muhammed, Deputy National Publicity Secretary; Lady Maryam Batubu, Women Leader, and Comrade Stanley Nwaka; Youth Leader.
Mr Adakole Ijogi and Mr Akinbode Oluyemi are to serve in Communication Strategy Committee.
The SDP National Chairman, in his remarks, said the party was ready to fill the leadership vacuum and provide a serious government whose priority was the welfare of the people since Nigeria was in dire need of a political platform that would take her to the promised land.
Chief Falae, who said the party was in contact with various movement, expressed the readiness of the SDP to welcome everybody into its fold without discrimination.
“We are in dialogue with many of them and the dialogue is positive. You will hear more news. SDP is a very ambitious party. If all Nigerians decide to join SDP, I will welcome them all,” he said this when asked to clarify the insinuation going on that the SDP was the platform for Third Force Movement for 2019.
While reacting to a question that sought to know the reason why he left the PDP, Prof. Gana said, “when men and women of principles see good ideas, majority will flock into the movement. You can see with me Prof. Alkali, Prof. Tunde Adeniran. This will be an attraction. Many people are also contacting us.”
Gana, who is the chairman of the SDP National Steering Committee, said the party was still in transition period between now and April when it would hold its convention.
While stressing that the ideology of SDP was social democracy that placed emphasis on the welfare of the people who would transform the country, he said that the party would pursue the triumph of social justice and the nobility of human dignity among other good ideals which had been encapsulated in its manifesto that would soon be launched.
The press conference was also attended Prof. Tunde Adeniran, and Dr Olu Agunloye, who is a one-time Minister of Power and Steel, Minister of State for Defence (Navy), Special Assistant to the late Chief Bola Ige, member of Constitution Review Committee, and former chief executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), a former governorship aspirant on the platform of the party.
It would be recalled that the movement of Prof. Gana and Prof. Adeniran to the SDP was reported over the weekend.
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