Chief Olabode George
PDP chieftain, Bode George endorses LP’s Rhodes-Vivour ahead Lagos poll
Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has thrown his weight behind the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the March 11 governorship election, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
Chief George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, made his decision known when he addressed a press conference in Lagos, Monday, alongside other members of the Omo Eko Pataki members which include the former deputy governor of the state, Kofoworaola Akerele-Bucknor and Onikepo Oshodi.
The group also frowned at alleged threats to voters against a particular candidate of a political party, as it further condemned ‘such acts of divisive politics annihilate innocent Nigerians.’
‘There are plans to ensure that Rhodes-Vivour is taken out of circulation before Saturday’s election,’ said George, as he raised the alarm that it did not want a repeat of what happened to the late Funsho Williams in Lagos.
Goerge then urged the people of the state to be careful in voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 11 governorship election.
“Of paramount interest and concern is the issue of threat to lives by cronies and criminal elements, who we presume are being unleashed on innocent citizens who are willing to exercise their civic rights, to effect a positive change to their lives, the lives of their unborn children, using the civilised option of the ballot box, universally approved as opposed to the option of anarchy.”
Rhodes-Vivour is expected to contest the Lagos governorship poll against the incumbent state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and the candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (Jandor).
Other candidates in contention for the Lagos House include; Funmilayo Kupokiyi (APM), Abiola Adeyemi (APP), Dickson Olaogun (A), Abdulrasaq Balogun (AA), Akeem Olayiwola (AAC), Olufunso Doherty( ADC),
Bamidele Ishola (ADP), Olawale Oluwo (BP),Olanrewaju Jim-Kamal (NNPP), Braithwaite Ishola (NRM), Taofeek Uthman (SDP), Wasiu Ajayi (YPP), and Adenipebi Mode-Adekunle (ZLP).
Meanwhile, it would be recalled that a High Court in Lagos, last Friday, mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results from the polling units (PUs) electronically through the BVAS machines for the next Saturday, March 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.
A total of 16 candidates will be contesting the Lagos governorship, with 394 for the 40 House of Assembly.
The suit was filed by LP, its Governorship Candidate in Lagos State Gbadebo Rhodes -Vivour and 40 House of Assembly flag-bearers.
The commission faces accusations that, contrary to its guidelines, it failed to transmit the results of the February 25 presidential elections to its servers through the BVAS, and this gave room for massive alteration and falsification of PU figures.
The order to INEC came in an Order of Mandamus secured by the Labour Party (LP) and others in Lagos on Friday.
By the ruling, the electoral commission is compelled to follow strictly to its guidelines by: Ensuring delivery of voting materials to all PUs in Lagos; Transmitting all votes immediately counting became completed at the PUs.
