Mr Duke, a two-term governor of Cross River State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had been expected to run on the party’s platform.
He, however, announced his decision at the national secretariat of the SDP on Tuesday afternoon where he was received by the national secretary, Shehu Gabam, the publicity secretary, Alfa Mohammed, amongst others.
He said he left his party of about 20 years because it had derailed and lost its values and was not the same party he joined back then.
Mr Duke’s tenure in Cross River is remembered by many Nigerians for massive projects like the Tinapa resort and the Obudu cattle ranch; both of which have been mired in controversy since his exit.
Details later…