Lagos PDP Demands Disqualification Of APC, Sanwo- Olu, Over ‘Tradermoni’
Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to activate it’s power to ensure fairness in elections by disqualifying the All Progressives Congress (APC) from participating in the 2019 governorship election in the state for violating the election timetable on start of campaigns.
PDP also urged the commission to prosecute the APC governorship candidate in the race, Mr Jide Sanwoolu, for same electoral offence.
The party made this call in a statement issued by its publicity secretary, Mr Taofik Gani noted that ongoing visits to some markets in the state to distribute tradermoni, which it described as, “deliberate rallies” by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was basically to introduce the APC governorship candidate, Sanwo- Olu, to the traders for votes and not intended to launch any trade support programme, otherwise called Tradermoni.
According to PDP, “The deliberate rallies into Lagos markets by the vice president is basically to introduce the APC governorship candidate to the traders for votes and not intended to launch any trade support programme, sic Tradermoni.
Justifying its position, the PDP averred that Mr Sanwo- Olu, at every of the visitations, was introduced as governorship candidate of APC, saying that the vice president always sought the traders to vote APC to enable them to continue to enjoy the Tradermoni.
“Similarly, the visitations are fleshed up with APC campaign posters, souvenirs, musicians to promote APC and Sanwo- Olu,” PDP added.
PDP contended that the markets visitation was apparent electoral impunity which the INEC cannot deny knowledge of, saying such oversight on the part of the electoral commission amounted to “allowing the ruling APC to over reach other political parties in the state.”
“If this is not stopped, other parties would also commence campaigns and indeed the INEC should be held responsible for abetting the offences,” the party said.
Expressing its objections further, the PDP further accused the INEC of not sanctioning the Lagos APC and its governorship candidate who it said had also been using the state media houses to lure voters.
While objecting to what it termed, “illegal and foul campaigns by the APC governorship candidate,” PDP warned that it would not standby to be technically rigged out of the coming election, accusing INEC of officially abetting what it described “this electoral impunity” by looking the other way and pretending not to notice the APC violations.
.”We shall not standby to be technically rigged out of this election, we take very strong objections to these illegal and foul campaigns by the APC governorship candidate. We state categorically that the INEC is officially abetting this electoral impunity by looking the other way and pretending not to notice the APC violations.
“This calls to question the readiness of the electoral body to allow fair contest in the coming elections,” the party said.
But in a swift reaction, APC accused the PDP of crying wolf where there was none, saying that weeping over little matters like this was a signal that the main opposition party was afraid, jittery, timid, confused and dejected even when the real campaigns was yet to start.
Commenting on the issue APC spokesman in the state Mr Joe Igbokwe, APC stated that its governorship candidate, Sanwo-Olu, for the avoidance of doubt, was known to have been consulting stakeholders in the state, meeting church and market leaders, organized private sector, artisans, professionals, Nollywood, politicians, party leaders, captains of industries, among others.
It said Sanwo- Olu’s outing with the vice president, the Lagos State governor, Mr Ambode to visit markets to promote the glory of Tradermoni success story should not be an exception, declaring that the PDP candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje and his party leaders were free to join the train of Tradermoni project if they wished instead of lazing about in one corner of the state, throwing their hands up in total surrender when the real game was yet to start.
“The candidate of PDP Mr Jimi Agbaje and his party leaders are free to join the train of Tradermon project if they wish instead of lazing about in one corner of Lagos, throwing their hands up in total surrender when the real game is yet to start,” APC said.
While predicting an imminent defeat of PDP in coming poll, APC said: “What happened in Lagos in 2015 will not repeat itself again. GEJ will not be there to release millions of dollars. Police, Army, DSS, OPC, TAN, etc will not be there to help. Lagos PDP will have to paddle its canoe this time around and it will not be easy.
“Former President Obasanjo could not steal Lagos in 2003, President GEJ could not steal Lagos in 2015 even as sitting presidents. It cannot be achieved in 2018 when APC is sitting in Abuja.
“We insist once again that there is confusion and crisis in Lagos PDP. Two strange bed fellows; Chief Bode George and Jimi Agbaje cannot sell a rotten egg to the wise Lagosians. The muscle, strength, capacity, skills and brains are not just there.”