The attention of the SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDP) has been drawn to a series of documents, letters and other communications, signed by the National Secretary and National Publicity Secretary of the party, and purported to have emanated from, and duly authorized by the party.
For the avoidance of any doubt, the party hereby states that none of those documents, letters or other communication emanated from the party or were duly authorized by the party.
It is pertinent to point out the following provisions of the constitution of SDP, 2022 as amended:
i. Section 13.1 of the constitution states clearly that the National Chairman of the party shall be the CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, and Leader of the Party.
ii. Section 14.3 of the constitution makes it clear that no meeting of any organ of the party can validly hold in the absence of the Chairman of the said organ of the party, hence in the case of the NWC, no meeting of the NWC can validly hold or any decision taken at the said meeting in the absence of the National Chairman of the Party who is the Chairman of the NWC of the party.
iii. By the combined provisions of Section 13.1 (iv) and Section 14.4 (ii) of the constitution, only the National Chairman of the party can preside over any meeting of the NWC of the Party.
iv. Section 14.4 (i) of the constitution states clearly that Non-compliance with the rules for the conduct of meetings of the party, shall render null and void decisions taken at any such meeting.
It is also pertinent to point out here that except in cases where the National Chairman delegates his duties or directs any other officer of the party to carry out any particular assignment and sign any document, letter or other communication on behalf of the party in line with the provisions of Section 13.1 (vi) of the constitution of the party 2022 as amended; the National Chairman, as the Chief Executive Officer and Leader of the party, is a mandatory signatory to all documents, letters and communications of the party.
In view of all the above, the party hereby categorically states that all letters purported to have been signed on behalf of the party, including all letters to INEC, all security agencies, private individuals including officers of the party, press releases to media houses, etc; signed by DR. OLU AGUNLOYE, RUFUS …., and any other person whatsoever, without the signature of the National Chairman or on the express delegation or directive of the National Chairman, is illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
The SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDP) hereby unequivocally disclaims all documents, letters and other communications signed by DR. OLU AGUNLOYE, RUFUS …., and any other person whatsoever purported to have been written for or on behalf of the party. The party further urges you, and indeed all Nigerians to completely disregard all such documents, letters and other communication as they are completely unauthorized, unlawful, illegal, null and void.
The SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDP) hereby further states that anyone acting on any such documents, letters and other communications which have been hereby disclaimed, does so at his or her own risk and may be exposing him or herself to avoidable litigations, cost or damages resulting from placing reliance on or acting on any such documents, letters or other communications as if they lawfully emanated from the party.
We shall be much obliged by your positive response to this Disclaimer Notice for as the saying goes, “A stitch in time saves nine”.
Be assured of our warmest regards
IKENNA MORGAN ENEKWEIZU ESQ.
Deputy National Legal Adviser
Social Democratic Party (SDP)
CC: National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police, DG DSS, CG NSCDC, FCT commissioner Police, IPAC