Recognised Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State,
Otunba Segun Adewale has described as a
ruse the attempt by the Moshood Salvador-led
faction of the PDP which a fortnight ago
announced an alliance with the Labour Party
(LP) for the July 22council polls in the state.
It will be recalled that at a stakeholders
meeting held in Surulere, Salvador, who
belongs to the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the
PDP, said owing to the fact that the Lagos
State Independent Electoral Commission
(LASIEC) has recognised candidates from the
Sheriff faction to contest in the election, he
and other supporters loyal to Makarfi have
decided to form an alliance with Labour
Party.
He was however quick to add that the alliance
was a temporary arrangement whereby all
PDP candidates for the polls would contest on
the LP platform.
Salvador said that the decision was borne of
out the inability of his faction and the Segun
Adewale-led faction of the PDP to reach a
consensus for the polls.
He said that the alliance became necessary
as his faction, which he claimed represented
over 90 per cent of the PDP in the state, was
denied participation in the polls, following the
recognition of the Adewale-led faction by the
LASIEC.
Salvador said that the alliance did not mean
that his faction had left the PDP. According to
him, the arrangement would be temporary.
"What we are announcing today is alliance
with Labour Party to enable our candidates to
participate in the elections. Political alliance is
an agreement for co-operation between
political parties on common agenda, often for
the purpose of contesting elections".
"This alliance does not mean we are leaving
the party. We are PDP anytime. We only have
a pre-election alliance. This is not the first
time we are having such in the country's
political history,'' he said. He said that the
alliance had made the Labour Party platform
to have 342 councillorship candidates and 52
chairmanship candidates for the polls.
Salvador directed all candidates under the
arrangement to start pasting their posters and
educate the electorate on the alliance and
how they could vote.
He directed all the faction's PDP executives in
council areas to work closely with candidates
of the LP for success at the polls. The LGA
Chairmen, the Ward Chairmen and all our
LCDA Chairmen must start work tirelessly to
educate the public on this Council election and
work closely with all their Labour Party
counterparts and candidates in their various
Local Governments."
Accusing the Modu Sheriff-led PDP of refusing
to accept the leadership of Salvador and
Segun Adewale's readiness to be Vice
Chairman to Salvador, he said "the Sheriff
group broke the promises immediately it was
made. They knew that they are less than 10%
of the PDP membership in Lagos State.
"This shows why they only believe in violence
for every move made and they lack quality
and reliable leadership with no visible elders
and leaders."
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