The Southeast Amalgamated Market Traders Association (SEAMATAS) said yesterday that it had not adopted any candidate for the presidential election.

SEAMATA’s President-General, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, spoke at a media briefing after an emergency meeting in Onitsha, Anambra State.

He said the market leaders were still consulting and that consultation had become necessary to avoid sentiments and a bandwagon syndrome.

Ezenwankwo said: “Today, we have resolved that Southeast traders have not adopted anybody as their candidate for the presidential election.

“Let me assure you that by January 15, we will convene a general meeting of market leaders and their secretaries in the Southeast. We shall adopt a candidate at that meeting.

“Yes, as I said before, we are not politicians, we are doing our legitimate business. So what we are saying is to create an enabling environment for us to do our business.

“We need a candidate, who will assist traders.

“We are not politicians; we are not taking issue with any party.

“We are happy they have conducted their primaries free and fair and presidential candidates have emerged. Goodluck to all of them.’’

He said the traders had resolved not to support any candidate based on sentiment without considering his achievements and track-records.

“We are traders and we do not want to plant seeds of discord and mistrust in our midst by endorsing any candidate without wider consultation with millions of traders in markets in the Southeast.

“We owe it a duty to direct our members aright on how and who to vote for without sentiments.

“We will not endorse any candidate, who will not protect traders’ interest,’’ the president-general said.

He said the presidential candidate to be adopted by the traders must have plans and policy framework to reduce the cost of doing business in the country.