Lagos council poll: PDP chieftain accuses APC of ‘blatant, audacious rigging’
Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otunba Segun Adewale has asked the Lagos State Independent Electoral (LASIEC) Chairman, Hon. Justice Ayotunde-Phillips to cancel last Saturday, July 24 local government election conducted in the state over what he called as ‘blatant, audacious, I-don’t-care rigging’ by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adewale, a former factional leader of the PDP in Lagos also faulted the electoral process which he alleged ran contrary to LASIEC’s rules.
“The election was not fair nor free, it should be cancelled otherwise I will advise PDP candidates to come out enmasse and protest against the injustice.
“A lot of our people won the election all around Lagos but it was rigged, it was fraught with ballot paper snatching, PDP loyal members beaten to coma. Although collaboration of some members not favoured in primaries did a lot more damage.
“For instance in Agbado Oke Odo they brought the ballot papers and started thumb printing inside a Police Station, but this was not challenged because we are not united, we go to war with our home in disarray, I have video evidences of this as it is replete everywhere.
“Can you see what they did in Oshodi? So I am not blaming APC totally but this is a report that the Commissioner of Police should take as per social vices here, because nobody has a monopoly of violence.
“If the democracy preached by Asiwaju is genuine then this election should be cancelled.
” I know people will tell us to go to court but that is only reasonable if the rigging is minimal. Fine we can go to court but this is just blatant, audacious, I don’t care rigging, it is like a slap on PDP’s face.
“I will not condone irregularities with silence because I was directly involved in the election, I had people contesting in my ward and I know the way APC manipulated things.
“So I will therefore be very grateful if Chief Phillips can look into this and cancel the election outrightly.” Adewale reiterated.
The PDP chieftain lamented that many of those working against his party are just waiting for the monies in 2023 elections.
“They (the saboteurs) cannot make us win in Lagos as they have been trading us off since 1999.
“It is a shame that, when it comes to sharing of money and position the leadership is active but goes inert at critical moments like election periods, at the polling booths they are nowhere to be found, when it comes to rallying support for our candidates.
“I am in PDP, ready to make things work positively and beat APC politically arms down.
“But you are branded a thug for defending your vote, life and family, in Agege two people were killed and those killing won’t be called thugs by the PDP leaders, if we want to retaliate or defend ourselves, the same PDP leaders not APC will be calling us thug.
“I can’t be everywhere, we need everybody to be on the same page, this election was rigged by APC because PDP allowed it. If we are together who dared try that?”
