Guber poll: Igbo group, PDP candidate seek alliance of opposition parties
The Amalgamated Igbo Group in Lagos State and PDP Senatorial Candidate for Lagos West Senatorial District, Otunba Segun Adewale (Aeroland) on Friday said there was the need for alliance among opposition political parties ahead of March 11 Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos, Dr Femi Ferguson, the Chairman of the Igbo group, said that the group wanted a robust competition during the polls in order to get credible representatives in government.
Ferguson, also the President Ndigbo United Association, said that PDP, LP and other opposition political parties would be involved in the planned merger ahead of the governorship and house of assembly elections to challenge the status quo.
He said: “We want the people of Lagos State to know that an alliance among opposition political parties will take place soon, especially in this state.
“There is going to be a tsunami, it is not going to be as usual. We want a robust competition because democracy is all about competition.
“Therefore, we are arranging an alliance for a great tsunami accord in Lagos state and in so many states of the federation.
“I want to assure that before March 11 Governorship and House of Assembly elections, such an arrangement would have been perfected. This is on the front burner now.”
Ferguson cautioned all political parties to steer clear of rigging during the poll through bypassing of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System ( BVAS), intimidation and other means.
On the Saturday’s Lagos West Senatorial District election, Ferguson urged INEC to review the outcome as voters in the district voted for PDP since LP did not present any candidate.
He said that their records of results and votes recorded in INEC Form EC8A showed that the PDP candidate won the election in the district.
“We all votes Aeroland in the 10 LGAs that made up Lagos West. We monitored the election in most polling units and our original results indicated that he won.
“We are not speculating, we have our facts, we have our results from the 10 LGAs.
“We are surprised when we heard different things during collations. We are asking INEC to reverse its declaration and give Adewale Certificate of Return.”
According to him, INEC must also look into the results of all candidates perceived to have been cheated by the outcome of the elections across political parties.
He said that the group voted individuals in the election across party divides including APC candidates.
Speaking, Adewale, who maintained that results recorded in INEC Form EC8A at the polling units showed that he defeated his main challenger from APC, Dr Idiat Adebule, said he was allegedly rigged out during collations.
The candidate said that the Feb. 25 elections was the second time of his winning election in Lagos without his mandate given to him.
On the merger, Adewale, a former Lagos PDP Chairman said that both PDP and LP would be wasting their time, energy and resources if they went into March 11 elections divided.
“I don’t really know how far they (PDP Governorship Candidate Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor) and his LP Candidate, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour) can go on their own in their separate party.
“Please, let us talk to GRV(Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour), his people, his sponsors and talk to Jandor too.
“They just have to come together. If they go divided into March 11 elections, they will be defeated even if they win, the mandate won’t be given to them.
“Winning election is very easy in Lagos because APC is not performing but the opposition parties must come together.
“Base on experience, that is no way LP and PDP can go into this election on their separate ways to fight Tinubu’s APC and win. It is a waste of time,” he said.
He said that LP could not ride of the back of Mr Peter Obi and win the forthcoming Governorship election in the state.
Ferguson said: “Let us combined strength of LP with PDP and face the APC. In 2015, all oppositions came together to oust PDP from power at the centre but now we are going what is totally wrong.
“It is impossible to defeat Tinubu in Lagos without joining forces, and defend your votes.
“Do all you can now, have emergency meetings and let us have a direction ahead of the governorship election.
“I want us to have synergy. I want us to fight together, let the candidate that has advantage be the Governorship Candidate while the rest positions are shared. Otherwise, it will be pennywise pound foolish.”
The meeting had in attendance Ndigbo leaders from various communities and groups.
