Former senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has declared that he will participate in the substituted gubernatorial primaries of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State.
The senator, who announced last week that he was no longer a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, informed his supporters of his decision to join the SPD after a meeting on Thursday night in Port Harcourt.
However, LEADERSHIP Sunday observed that the SDP governorship candidate in the state, Hon. Maurice Pronen, was yet to step down while the leadership of the party has not announced any date for substituted primary election.
Abe spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, shortly after he was decorated with the regalia of his new political party by the National Treasurer, Hajia Maggi Marian Batubo, who was accompanied by the state Chairman of the party, Hon.
Solsuema Osaro.
He said: “The substituted primaries of the SDP, any day it is held, I will contest. I am sure that the level of acceptance that I have in the SDP, it won’t be like the former place where strangers will come and get 900 votes and those who sowed will get two. I think in this SDP, those of us that are welcomed will get all the votes.”
Recall that Abe had, in a statement posted on his official Facebook page, on Friday, announced his membership of the SDP and expressed his committed to the growth of internal democracy in the politics of Nigeria.
The statement reads in part: “Yes I am and I have been a member of the social Democratic Party SDP.
“I remain irrevocably committed to the ideals that have driven my politics through the years. And will continue to do all we can to improve internal democracy in the politics of our country and focus on the people”.
