No going back on PDP/LP alliance, says George 

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has urged the electorate who believe in the party to vote for chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the Labour Party in the Saturday local council elections in Lagos State.

He said there is no going back on the LP/PDP alliance, which the Senator Ahmed Markafi-led Caretaker Committee faction entered into during the party’s leadership tussle.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos yesterday, George also declared that Mr. Moshood Salvador remains the authentic chairman of the Lagos PDP in view of last week Supreme Court ruling in favour of the Markafi’s faction.

According to him, “here in Lagos, the authentic and valid executive that is recognised by our Caretaker Committee is the one led by Salvador, his deputy Chief Ola Apena and his secretary Prince Muiz Dosunmu. This is true in law. This is true on all moral ramifications. Anything else is a fraud. Any other platform is null and void, a flagrant abuse of due process.

“As the ashes of rebellion and errant dissidence are being swept away, our party is now maturing in new truths, in new strength and in new awareness. “As part of our strategy of confronting the present challenges, we have decided here in Lagos to implement a PDP and LP alliance for the exercise. It is a necessary recourse, which had been authorised and blessed by the National Caretaker Committee (NEC).

“My appeal now is to all our loyal members and all the electorate in Lagos to please go out en masse and vote for our candidates on the LP platform. This is the platform of truth and liberation. This is the platform that is people-centered. This is the platform that cares about the weak, poor and everyone else who want a better and improved governance in our state of excellence.”

Meanwhile, the LP Chairman, Pastor Biodun Popoola confirmed the alliance, saying, “It has been solidified.” According to him, “There is no doubt the LP/PDP alliance in the coming council poll will deliver the grassroots people of Lagos from the whims and caprices of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s mishandling of our council over the years.

He said the alliance would not also be fruitful but would also refocus the management of the councils in the state to the best advantage of the electorate, “who have been cut off from grassroots politics due to the style of APC.”

The LP chairman however urged the leadership of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to ensure free, fair and credible election at the poll, calling particularly on the commission’s chairperson, Justice Ayotunde Philips, not to allow the ruling party interfere or push the organisation to do contrary to the expectation and the desire of the electorate.

However, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has urged all candidates to deliver on their electoral promises.

At a debate jointly organised by TMG, Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Enough Is Enough (EIE) group and the media for chairmanship and counsellorship candidates in Lagos, the chairperson of TMG, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said the essence of the debate was to ensure that political discourse is brought to the grassroots where people can freely engage their representatives on issues beyond personal discussions or mare rhetoric.

She said the primary objective of the debate is to enable each individual crystallise his or her autonomous opinion in the decision-making process and help promote credible and legitimate elections that are conducted in accordance with international and regional standards as well as the laws and the constitution of Nigeria.