THE Alliance for Democracy (AD) has restated its support for President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate, saying its former National Secretary, Rafiu Salau, has since been expelled from the party having been found culpable of anti-party activities.

The National Chairman of AD, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, reacting through the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olapade Fakunle, in a release to Salau’s claim that he remains the party’s presidential candidate, said: “The party has expelled him.”

“Mr Rafiu Salau, until January 28, 2015, was the National Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and has been expelled from AD with effect from March 10, 2015,” the party said.

The party said it took this decision, following Salau’s excesses, unilateral decisions and press releases, which neither the National Chairman of the party, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party was privy to.

“As a result of all his unauthorised and several anti-party activities, at the party’s NEC meeting held at Sharon Hotel, Abuja, on January 28, 2015, in which Salau attended, he was unanimously told to withdraw from the presidential race and he was supposed to face a disciplinary panel which he failed to attend on two various dates.”

“He has, therefore, been expelled from AD with effect from March 10, 2015 and the party members and the public should therefore totally disregard him for his utterances and actions,” the party said in its release.

The AD leadership said, having considered all other options clinically and meticulously, unanimously adopted President Goodluck Jonathan, as its presidential candidate on March 10, 2015, at the party’s NEC meeting at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State.

“The Alliance for Democracy (AD), hereby restate our unflinching support for President Goodluck Jonathan and enjoins all our party members to vote massively for him on March 28, 2015 and ensure his victory by God’s Grace,” the party said.

The party also faulted Salawu’s claim in an earlier publication, where he was quoted to have said that he was ratified by the party as its presidential candidate and national chairman at a convention on March 7, 2015.