The leadership of the Taraba State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has denied rumours making the rounds that the party has arrived at a conclusion to merge with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Debunking the rumours on Thursday during the official unveiling of the party’s governorship running mate, the leadership of the party described the rumours as false, stating that “we have no plans to align with any political parties.”

Making this known through its gubernatorial candidate, Danladi Baido, the party said it does not need to merge with any other political party before emerging victorious in the forthcoming polls.

Certain of winning the governorship election in Taraba, the party, according to him is “not willing in any way to merge with the APC”.

The ongoing rumours and speculation, as made known by him, is cheap blackmail against “my person and the SDP in Taraba State”.

Stressing that “I am a politician of repute” he vowed never to descend low to any of the registered political parties in the state, as the party, according to him, has all the desired structures to form the next government in Taraba come 2023.

He said “the SDP has no plan to merge with the APC for the 2023 governorship election in Taraba. The speculation is just cheap blackmail to discourage our supporters.”

The party, as further stated by him, is “aware that both the APC and the PDP are afraid of us and that is why they picked their running mates from the northern zone where I an coming from.”

Believing that APC and PDP’s choice of running from the northern geopolitical zone of the state cannot mar SDP’s victory.

“My local government has been privileged to produce a deputy governor and now we are not after the deputy governor but for the governorship,” he said.

While admonishing the teeming supporters of the party to remain resolute and disregard “all speculations making the rounds by the APC and PDP”, the party, in his opinion, will not succumb to any intimidation or false rumours.