Why We Are Contesting –PDP

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that it is participating in the forthcoming local government elections in 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas, in order to influence the National Assembly into listing the LCDAs in the constitution.

The state chairman of the party, Hon. Setonji Koshoedo, disclosed this during a press conference held at the party secretariat, adding that the party would even ask for more LCDAs and have them listed by the National Assembly if the need arises.

He said, “Our party shall participate in this election. We have been mobilised to participate in the elections as a matter of necessity. This necessity is to hear the call of Lagosians that we must contest, provide better grassroots government to Lagosians and come into local government administration to influence the National Assembly to list the LCDAs in the constitution.

“At this juncture, we reiterate that Lagos PDP will even ask for more LCDAs and have them listed by the NASS if need be. We must point out that the resolve of PDP to participate in the local government elections is causing jitters within the ACN. We, in fact, have reported that some of our candidates are being harassed.

“LASAA has actually been removing our posters all over the state, while ACN posters remain pasted. We remain unprovoked and focused. Our strength to win in this election lies in the apparent disenchantment the grassroots electorate have with ACN council chairmen and councillors.

“The well placed disenchantment is borne out of the non-performance of the ACN councils. The incidences of bad roads, indecent Schools, under equipped health centres, insecurity and lack of pipe borne water, to mention a few all abound,” he said.

The PDP state chairman further said: “We strongly condemn the declaration by Governor Fashola that his administration will not develop any part of the state that is won by PDP during ACN rally at Ikorodu. The party has described the threat as empty and that Lagosians should not lose sleep over it.”

—Jamiu Yisa