ACN Flags Off Chairmanship Campaign Tomorrow

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Lagos State chapter, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, has announced the flag off of its chairmanship campaign for elections into the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas at Onikan Stadium tomorrow.

The party disclosed this during its stakeholders’ meeting held at its secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.

The meeting, which was presided over by the party chairman, Otunba Henry Oladele Ajomale, was attended by Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; former Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye; ACN vice chairmen, Cardinal James Odunmbaku (Lagos West); Adeseye Amingo (Lagos Central) and Akanni Seriki-Bamu (Lagos East); Mainland ACN leader, Hon. Wale Oshun; former Head of Service, Yaqub Balogun and House of Representatives member, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Others are Commissioner for Rural Development, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi; his Transport counterpart, Comrade Kayode Opeifa; Alhaji Mutiu Are; Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele; Mrs. Kemi Nelson; Chief Funso Ologunde; Primate Charles Odugbesi; Hon. Toba Oke; Huntonyon Bamgbose and Hon. Goriola Agbara, ACN chairmanship candidates among others.

Ajomale thanked the chieftains and members of the party for keeping faith with it, assuring them that they would not lose out when dividends of democracy are distributed at the grassroots.

The national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, charged members to brace up for the local government election scheduled for 22 October, saying that the party deserves victory across the pre-existing 20 councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas.

The former Lagos State governor called for unity, reconciliation and harmony in areas where the primaries conducted by the chapter created tension and intra-party disagreement, reminding party stalwarts that they would always find accommodation within the larger collective interests.

Tinubu reviewed the primaries, lamenting that many members wrote spurious petitions against incumbent council chairmen.

He said the false petitions were ignored because the party believes in truth, fairness, justice and rule of law.

“Some petitions written against the chairmen were not true. Don’t because you want to remove a chairman continue to write false petitions. Remember the judgment day. Councillors should also desist from running after money after elections. Councillors who threaten their chairmen with impeachment would be impeached instead, if they do not inform the party leadership.”

The former governor, who said the party leadership had approved the list of candidates for the polls, advised Ikeja ACN leaders to resolve their misunderstanding at home.

He said the party had no reason not to field the council boss, Hon. Wale Odunlami, as its chairmanship candidate.

He explained that the Chairman of Agege Council, Jubreel Abdulkarim, had to be given a second chance because the allegations against him were false.

Urging the ethnic nationalities in Lagos to continue to support the ruling party, he said Arewa and Igbo must have supervisory councillorship slots in Agege and Ojo Local Government councils.

He frowned at the attitude of members who have blocked the gates of council secretariats against some outgoing chairmen, reminding them that their tenure would only expire when they hand over to their successors after elections.

The party leader said the Ajomale Executive Committee had quashed the purported impeachment of the Agbado-Oke-Odo Council outgoing Chairman, Pastor Kenny Okunmuyide, affirming that he would serve his tenure to the end.

He urged the candidates and party members to work for the success of the party in their local government areas.

Tinubu advised members of the party in Isolo LCDA never to succumb to threats.

He said: “Don’t be afraid. I heard that they brought sacrifice to the council secretariat. Get a keg of petrol and pour it on the sacrifice. It will be consumed by fire and that will be the end.

—Jamiu Yisa