Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode yesterday urged the people of Ifako-Ijaye Constituency to vote for Akinwunmi Olaitan, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in tomorrow’s House of Representatives by-election.
He advised the party faithful to intensify the house-to house campaign and spread the message of hope and assurance that Lagos was working under his administration.
Thanking the people of the constituency for their support for him in last year’s poll, Ambode promised to begin work on the mini-stadium project in the area in the first quarter of next year.
He said: “The past, present and future belong to all of you. Ojokoro and Ijaye will move forward. In the last one and half years, Lagos has been working. We have not started anything yet. Lagos will make greater progress next year. We will implement the budget faithfully. We will fulfill our promises.”
Ambode spoke at a rally in Ifako-Ijaye to drum support for Olaitan, who emerged as the APC flag bearer at the primary. The seat became vacant, following the death of the House of Representatives member. Dr. Elijah Adewale, who was elected last year. Paying tribute to his memory, the governor also hailed the contributions of the deceased’s family to the party.
Olaitan was accompanied to the rally by former aggrieved aspirants, who had agreed to mobilise their supporters to vote for him, following reconciliation. He received the party flag from the party chairman, Chief Dele Ajomale, who charged party members to vote massively for him.
At the rally, the Lagos West APC leader, Chief Funso Ologunde, conducted a mini-voter’s education for the party members, urging them to thumb print on the right place on the ballot paper.
Also, the candidates of the Action Alliance (AA), Yusuf Abdulfatai, and Alliance for Democracy (AD), Michael Adebayo, stepped down for Olaitan and promised to mobilise support for him at the poll.
At the rally were the Lagos State APC Deputy Chairman, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Senator Solomon Adeola from Lagos West, House of Representatives member Jide Jimoh from Lago Mainland constituency, Alhaji Ganiyu Badmus, Chief Raheem Daramola, Benjamin Olabinjo, Mrs. Fausat Hassan-Olajokun, Joe Igbokwe, Mr. Abiola Salami, House of Assembly members Saka Fafunmi and Makinde, Hakeem Bamgbola, Abdullahi Enililobo, Denge Anifowose, APC National Deputy Youth Leader Sesan Shobande, Hon. Demola Doherty, Toba Oke, Kayode Aremo, Mr. Biola Folayan, Asimiyu Onifade, Chief Ayokun Akande, Nuruden Alowonle, and Lagos West APC Women Leader Mrs. Kofo Ajani.
Senator Adeola urged the people to repeat the feat of last year’s election by voting for the APC candidate. He said: “This is the first time the APC will vote under the Ambode administration. You should vote for the APC in appreciation of the good works of the governor.”
Urging women to rise in defence of the APC by voting for the party, Mrs. Ajani said the house-to-house campaign would pave the way for victory at the poll.
Jimoh, who asked the party members to observe a minute of silence in memory of Dr. Adewale, charged them to vote for Olaitan to fill the vacuum created by his demise.
Anifowose from Bariga council said: “The APC will not fail on Saturday. I thank the aspirants for cooperating with the candidate. We should all work together to succeed.”
Fafunmi said: “It is time to work for the party again. This is another vote for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Ambode and all the elected members of the party. Let’s mobilise those who have the voter’s cards to vote on Saturday.”
Shobande, who said the power of change lies with the youths, women and masses, advised the people to vote for the APC. He added: “You should vote for the APC as you continue to vent your anger on the PDP for destroying the country.”