- We’re talking to all parties prepared to end an incompetent regime – Ologbondiyan
- If SDP works with PDP, I’ll leave – Junaid Mohammed
As the 2019 general elections draw nearer, indications have emerged that the major opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, has begun moves to woo the recently revived Social Democratic Party and others for a strong alliance during the forthcoming polls.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that PDP stalwarts at the national level had already met to deliberate on how the main opposition party and the SDP could work together in the 2019 elections for the purpose of defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress.
PDP is working on a coalition with all parties, groups and community associations
According to a reliable source, the leadership of PDP had already contacted some former presidents of the country to help the party to facilitate a smooth talk with the SDP National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae and other stalwarts.
A chieftain of the PDP from the South West, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that, having been convinced that the SDP could be a formidable third force; the main opposition party took the decision to approach it for the formation of a possible alliance.
He said, “The alliance does not mean they will drop their name; neither will we. But we will just work together to produce a good candidate that Nigerians can trust. And at the end, the memorandum of understanding between us will determine how we go about it.
“Already, our leaders have been making moves to contact our fathers, who are former presidents of the country. It is believed that they will help to facilitate the talks with the SDP. But for now, all are still in the pipeline. When the time comes, you people will know more.”
It was also gathered from another member of the party, who chose to speak on anonymous grounds, that efforts had reached a good level to ensure that both parties worked together to sweep the ruling APC out of power in 2019.
“As I speak to you, work is ongoing on a dialogue with the SDP and its leaders. We hope it will be successful. But for now, we don’t want to make it public,” he said.
When asked about the likely arrangement between the parties for the presentation of candidates for the various elective offices in the 2019 elections, he said, “I cannot say anything on that now. But when we get to the bridge we will cross it.”
National Chairman, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, had recently hinted that his party had gone into talks with other opposition parties as part of the efforts to upstage the APC in the 2019 general elections.
Secondus had, at the 79th emergency National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP, admitted that the party needed the support of other parties to defeat the APC in next year’s elections.
Also, at the weekend, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, confirmed to our correspondent that moves were already being made by the main opposition party to work with the SDP and other political parties to chase out the APC in 2019.
“PDP is working on a coalition with all parties, groups and community associations that are prepared to end this incompetent Buhari Presidency,” he said.
The PDP spokesperson had earlier said, “Moves are on ahead of 2019 and we are not leaving any stone unturned to achieve our mission.”
But the SDP National Vice Chairman, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has warned that he may dump the party if it chooses to work with the PDP.
Mohammed said the PDP was not a gathering of credible politicians with the love of the country at heart, but a party only interested in looting the national treasury.
He stressed that he was not ready to stay in a party that would form an alliance with the PDP, saying the ideologies of both parties differed greatly.
The SDP chieftain said, “I will not have anything to do with PDP or have any form of alliance with them. There are issues of principles. I don’t believe PDP is a party, because there is nothing they have given to this nation. Their main aim is to earn money, get into power and make money. That is what the PDP stands for and nothing has happened. Forget about their promises to the people that the party would soon rule Nigeria.
“So, as far as I am concerned, PDP is what we should do away with. And that in anyway does not mean I support APC. As far as I am concerned, the fight for real political parties continues. (With) the likes of APC with its incompetent leader and PDP, which is already a failure, Nigeria is going nowhere, I can assure you.”
When contacted, SDP National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, said, “I don’t know what is in the mind of the PDP, and there’s no how I can determine that.”
