Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, the Lagos State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the recent pact signed between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Union of Road transport Workers (NURTW) on the movement of election materials before, during and after the polls.
In a press conference in Lagos, Thursday night, the Lagos State chairman of the party, Adegbola Dominic, said that the party rejected the pact because it had been confirmed that NURTW was an arm of Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The unacceptable agreement was signed between INEC and the NURTW, particularly relating to elections in Lagos State. The Lagos state PDP chairman condemns and rejects in totality the announced agreement between the INEC and NURTW with respect to transportation and delivery of election materials before, during and after the polls,” Dominic said.
“We demand that INEC should terminate it and seek collaboration elsewhere.”
He pointed out that the admission and confession by the party’s spokesperson in Lagos, Joe Igbokwe, that NURTW members were card-carrying members of APC had suggested that the general elections in the state would not be credible if NURTW members are allowed to handle sensitive documents like election materials.
Dominic noted that the viral pictures showing NURTW members and APC supporters at elections in Ekiti and Osun States in an open relationship with the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Tinubu, was an attestation to the suspicion.
The politician also requested that INEC ban Lagos State APC from participating in the forthcoming election in view of how APC had militarised the polity, allegedly recruiting thugs and notorious criminals into their fold as members, who brazenly assault, kill and maim peace-loving Lagosians at will.
He Charged law enforcement officers to ensure that adequate security was provided to secure members of PDP and all Lagosians, insisting that APC leadership in Lagos State should be arrested and prosecuted for the fracas in the party’s recent mega rally where APC members freely used dangerous weapons like machetes, guns, knives, in which a leader of the NURTW, MC Olumo, was shot.
Also speaking, Bode George, former Southwest Deputy National Chairman of the party, said that the general election was very important in determining the future of Nigerians, urging members of the party to work as a team, so the APC could easily be dislodged in the state.
Gorge berated the National leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for continuing to act as if he owned Lagos State, and appealed to members of the PDP to put their house in order so that they would resist Tinubu’s dictatorship.
“This is not time to fight ourselves; it is a time we have to put our differences aside and work for the interest of the party, to ensure that the opportunity that God has given to the party to win all the elective positions was not misused,” George said.
Iniobong Iwok
