Tinubu vs Ambode: SDP blasts APC, prepares to welcome Lagos governor
Democratic Party (SP), South-West Zone, on Friday said that the party
would accommodate Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State in 2019
election.
Pearse, a University teacher, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in
Lagos that Ambode would be welcome to fly SDP's ticket if his (Ambode)
party, All Progressives Congress (APC) denied him second term ticket.
APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is said to be currently
rooting for a former commissioner in the state, Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu, who
has already declared his intention to contest the governorship on the
platform of the APC party.
Sanwo-Olu, the Managing Director, Lagos State Development and Property
Corporation, and Femi Hamzat, a former Commissioner for Works, are in
the race for the APC's governorship ticket.
Pearse said: "I have to tell you the truth that our national leaders
have asked us in Lagos to reach out to Ambode and to let him know that
we will be ready to accommodate him in our party if he so chooses.
"The reason being that Ambode has not performed excellently but we
think, he should have an opportunity for second term to complete some
of the works he has started.
"More importantly, we see Ambode as a man who seems to be standing up
to greed. That's they reason why we feel Ambode should be given an
opportunity.
"They are fighting him because he has not agreed to sell Lagos
totally. So, we will welcome him if he comes."
The SDP's chieftain, however, said that whether Ambode came or not,
the 2019 general elections were going to be the end of the ruling APC
in Lagos.
He said that the National Leader of APC and former governor of the
state, Sen. Bola Tinubu had made a big mistake by allegedly bringing
somebody that is totally unknown.
"They can win the primary (against Ambode) but let it come to the
general elections, people will show that this state does not belong to
them".
On SDP's alliance with some other opposition parties ahead of 2019
elections, Pearse said that the alliance at the national level still
subsists and would be used to oust the APC in the state.
He said: "We understand that it might be difficult to oust the
incumbent that has been there for years. We need an alliance and that
alliance by the grace of God will come into being.
"With that alliance, we are sure to win 2019 elections for the people
and to retire APC in the state."
On the outcome of the Osun poll, Pearse said that the alleged flaws
that characterised the election and runoff had shown that the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not prepared for
2019 elections.
"INEC is not prepared for 2019 general elections with the conduct of
Osun gubernatorial election. INEC is not independent at all and cannot
conduct fair, credible and acceptable elections.
"The reason being that, once the President of the country is the
person who appoints the Chairman of INEC, the INEC is already
compromised.
"Looking at the decision of INEC on Osun gubernatorial election, do
you think if APC had been the party that won with 353 votes in Osun,
they would not have declared the party's candidate as that winner?
"So, INEC must be trustworthy, incorruptible and fair. People must
stand firm to ensure that INEC is uncompromising."
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