Donald Duke leaves PDP, joins SDP to pursue presidential dream

Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River state, on Tuesday, September 4, said he had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and had pitched tents with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) under which he hopes to actualise his presidential aspiration.

Duke, who governed Cross River for eight years, was expected to contest for presidency on the platform of the PDP.

A report said Duke announced his decision to quit the PDP at the national secretariat of the SDP in the afternoon of Tuesday, September 4.

He was received by the national secretary of the SDP, Shehu Gabam, the publicity secretary, Alfa Mohammed, and other top party members.

Duke reportedly said he dumped the PDP after about 20 years because it had derailed and lost its values.

He said the PDP was not the same party he joined back then.

“The PDP we joined in 1998 is certainly not the same party that is in place today.

“When the former President of the country walked away from the part, you should know there is problem somewhere.

“PDP is the first truly national party, but over the years, you will see that it lost that and became a shadow of itself,” he said.

Duke said that he also left PDP to SDP because the nation was seeking for rebirth and most Nigerians were seeking something different and better which the SDP represented.

“I believe that the nation is seeking for rebirth. I believe that most Nigerians are yearning for something different and better and I am hoping that as like minds, we will come together.’’

He also disclosed that he would be contesting for the position of the president on the platform of SDP, and expressed confidence that though 2019 elections may be tough, he would win.

On the president’s refusal of assent to the amended Electoral Act Bill, Duke said that there were a lot of politics around the Electoral Act.

He that the president’s refusal on the bill may not be unconnected with the issue of re-ordering of the election sequence.

“I think that is still largely the underlining reasons for the president veto to the amended Act. In politics, people want to take advantage of what will satisfy them,” he added.