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Tag: Kola Ajayi

  • AD condemns destruction of posters, flags in Lagos

    The chairman of Alliance for Democracy (AD) Lagos State chapter Kola Ajayi has condemned the destruction of its party flags and obstruction of posters across Lagos describing it as a mockery of democracy.

    Speaking with reporters at the weekend at the party secretariat in Obanikoro, Lagos Ajayi said: “We have many registered political parties in Lagos of which Alliance for Democracy is one of them and we all have right to campaign during election to solicit for votes and support of the electorates, I wonder why AD is at the receiving end”.

    Ajayi asked why some of the opposition members decided to attack Alliance for Democracy by denying them of their rights.

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    “This and many more are questions we are asking and we won’t stop asking until we get answers because it is our right,” he stated.

    He added: “It was our initiative to mount flags in strategic locations in Lagos to solicit for endorsement but to our surprise those flags was allegedly removed overnight by the ruling party and PDP, they proceeded to mount theirs. They also pasted their own posters on our own to obstruct them.”

    He said the party will not cease to condemn their undemocratic acts and they will continue to demand for our rights.

    “Alliance for democracy should be left in peace to campaign during elections, it is our right and we will continue to demand for it, this is democracy and we refuse to surrender to intimidation and persecution,” he said.

    He stated the party had written to the Nigeria Police Force but it has not yielded positive result, stressing the AD is a law abiding party and we will continue to appeal to our members to toe the path of peace no matter the level of provocation.

  • 2019: Don’t sell your vote, AD chairman tells youths

    The Chairman of Alliance for Democracy, Kola Ajayi has called on youths in Lagos to vote wisely and avoid selling their vote for immediate gratification in the coming general election.

    Ajayi said this in an interview with The Nation at the formal endorsement of the Lagos State Gubernatorial Candidate of Alliance for Democracy, Chief Owolabi Salis by the Lagos Youth Vanguard for the 2019 Governorship election in Lagos state.

    Ajayi said that the 2019 election is another opportunity for Lagosians to choose the next Governor for another four years and it’s important that they choose wisely and not be driven by monetary gain.

    “don’t mortgage your future for monetary gain, demand for good governance and inclusive government for all in Lagos by voting wisely. “It is an obligation for every eligible voters to cast their votes, we must follow up such obligation by ensuring that the right person for the job is saddled with the responsibility to lead the state,” he said.

     “It is not enough to complain about the problems facing the state, adding that majority of the Lagosians must come out and partake in decisidng their fate and future in the next four years. Young people make up majority of the voters, meaning that if the young ones collectively decide to take a different approach to their welfare and status, by willingly and voluntarily voting for the best candidate without any monetary attachment, Lagos will better for it”.

    He further said AD has once ruled Lagos and it will do better if given the chance to stare the affairs of the state again. 
    In his words, The Gubernatorial Candidate of AD,  Chief Owolabi Salis said that he appreciate the award and endorsement given by the youth who according remains the pillar of development in our society.

  • 2019: Opposition parties in Lagos form alliance to challenge APC

    Fourteen opposition parties in Lagos State have formed an alliance to challenge the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the 2019 elections.

    The Chairman of Alliance for Democracy ( AD ) in the state, Mr Kola Ajayi, made the disclosure on Saturday in an interview with the newsmen in Lagos.

    He said that the “Star Alliance “was recently formed with the objective of providing what he called a credible alternative to the APC.

    Ajayi, the Chairman of the alliance, listed some of the parties in the coalition as AD, MEGA, Action Alliance and New Nigeria People’s Party.

    According to him, the others include People’s Progressive Party ( PPP ), People’s Redemption Party ( PRP ), Democratic Alternative and Accord.

    Ajayi said that the People’s Party of Nigeria, People ‘s Alliance for National Development and Liberty, People’s Democratic Movement and Legacy Party of Nigeria were also part of the alliance.

    He claimed that APC had yet to meet the aspirations of Lagos residents, hence, the need for a credible alternative.

    “We formed this coalition to provide a credible platform on which to deliver good governance to the real people at the grassroots.

    “We think Lagos residents deserve better and we should come together and give them the kind of government they want,’’ he said.

    He urged the residents to embrace the coalition which, he said, was formed for the masses.

    The coalition chairman said that the parties in the alliance had been meeting regularly on the strategy to employ to win Lagos in 2019.

    Read Also: APC announces new dates for congresses

    He said that the coalition would soon reach out to residents especially those at the grassroots on its development agenda.

    The state Chairman of NNPP, Malam Shakirudeen Olofin, also told the newsmen that the alliance was formed to give residents a `better deal’.

    He said that the coalition was the `Lagos Third Force’ with the intention to bring real governance to the state.

    Also confirming the alliance, the state Chairman of MEGA Party, Mr Oladele Idowu, said that the coalition was formed to deliver `real’ change to the state in the interest of residents.

    Lagos State Chairman of Action Alliance, Mr Shola Omojola, also told the newsmen that the opposition parties were discussing strongly in the alliance to give the state residents a better deal.

    NAN

  • 2019: IPAC seeks early release of elections timetable

    The Lagos State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Saturday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure early release of the 2019 general election timetable.

    The state Chairman of IPAC, Mr. Kola Ajayi, made the call in a chat with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He said early release of the time-table would help INEC, the political parties and candidates to be properly guided and prepared ahead of the election proper.

    Ajayi said though the electoral body had earlier announced the dates for presidential and governorship elections, there was the need for early release of the full time table for better planning and results.

    “There is need for INEC to release the full timetable for the general elections for better planning and results.

    “Yes, they have already released the date for the presidential and other elections, the parties are still waiting when to have primaries and when campaigns begin, end and all that.

    “The early release will help everyone to start off early and better.

    “I want to believe INEC is working on that and it will be released soon,” he said.

    Ajayi urged INEC to build on its achievements in the 2015 election and deliver a credible and peaceful poll in 2019.

    He said anything short of peaceful and credible polls would not be healthy for the nation’s democracy.

    Ajayi identified voter apathy as a major challenge in the country‘s democratic experience.

    He urged the stakeholders to address the problem.

     

     

  • Lagos bye-election: We are stepping up campaigns – AD

    Lagos bye-election: We are stepping up campaigns – AD

    The Alliance for Democracy ( AD ) said on Sunday that it was stepping up preparations for the Sept. 30 Lagos State House of Assembly bye-election for the Eti-Osa State Constituency.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC had scheduled the bye-election to fill the vacant seat in the house following the death of Mr Kazeem Alimi on July 18.

    Mr Kola Ajayi, the State AD Chairman, told NAN in Lagos that following the emergence of Mr Sofe Samson as the party’s candidate for the poll in a recent primary, the party would soon begin its campaign for an “impressive showing” in the bye-election.

    AD, formed in 1998 by the late Sen. Abraham Adesanya, ex-Lagos State Gov. Bola Tinubu, now National Leader of the ruling APC and others, was until 2003, a vibrant opposition party in Nigeria under the President Olusegun Obasanjo-led government.

    Following a leadership tussle between Sen. Mojisola Akinfenwa and Chief Bisi Akande, erstwhile Osun governor, the Akande faction merged with other opposition parties to form the Action Congress of Nigeria and subsequently, the All Progressives Congress ( APC ).

    Ajayi said:“We have conducted our primary during which Mr Sofe Samson emerged by consensus.

    “His name has been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as our flag bearer.

    “We have perfected plans for the election and campaign will soon begin and we are sure of doing well.”

    According to Ajayi, AD is a popular party in the state with a carefully designed programmes to meet the yearnings of the people.

    On calls for the country’s restructuring, the party chairman said: “It is time for the Federal Government to act.”

    He said the current structure of the country needed to be tinkered with to “fortify the country and help it meet its aspirations.”

  • Lagos IPAC constitutes committee to strengthen inter-party harmony

    Lagos IPAC constitutes committee to strengthen inter-party harmony

    The Lagos State chapter of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has constituted a committee to strengthen harmony among registered political parties in the state.

    State chairman of the council, Mr. Kola Ajayi, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

    He said the six -man committee (Technical Committee) was constituted at the council’s general assembly on Friday.

    He said the committee had Chief Adegboyega Adeniji of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) as its Chairman and Mr. Solomon Orji of Citizens Popular Party (CPP) as General Secretary.

    He said other members are, Mr. Biodun Popoola, Labour Party, Prince Adeshina Olayokun, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr. Lateef Adegoroye, African People’s Alliance and Mr. Olawale Idowu, Mega Progressive People’s Party.

    Ajayi said that apart from ensuring resolution of disputes among political parties, the committee had the responsibility to monitor the implementation of code of conduct of parties and furnish the council with periodic reports.

    He said the committee would investigate cases of misconduct by political parties and recommend sanctions in accordance with existing IPAC laws.

    “Also, it is the duty of the committee to receive and treat complaints and propose to IPAC’s general assembly the appropriate sanctions” he said.

    Ajay said the committee would start work immediately after inauguration by the end of the week.

    He said IPAC was committed to the harmonious relationship among parties and strict adherence to code of conduct of parties.

    The chairman said the council would do its best to ensure the peaceful conduct of the July 22 council polls, calling on the Lagos State Independent Electoral commission (LASIEC) to constantly engage the council to achieve the objective.

  • Lagos council poll : Aggrieved PDP members are welcome – AD

    Lagos council poll : Aggrieved PDP members are welcome – AD

    The Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Lagos on Monday said it would warmly receive aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) wishing to contest the July 22 council poll on its platform.

    The state chairman of the party, Mr Kola Ajayi made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He was reacting to a recent directive by the Moshood-Salvador faction of the PDP telling its aspirants to contest the July 22 council poll on platforms of their choice.

    The Publicity Secretary of the faction, Mr Taofik Gani had said the decision was a temporary arrangement to ensure that its aspirants were not denied participation in the poll.

    Gani said that the arrangement had become inevitable as reconciliation with the Segun Adewale-led group for the party to unite for the polls was not yielding results.

    Ajayi said the door of the party was open to aggrieved members of the PDP, but they would be allowed to contest on the party’s platform as long as they met the conditions.

    “Disagreements are normal in politics, so are movements of politicians from parties to parties for certain reasons.

    “So, if some of the aggrieved members of the PDP have decided to join us to contest the elections under our party, why not?

    “Our doors are open. We will warmly receive them and they will surely be allowed to contest so far they agree to certain terms and conditions.

    “One of the conditions will be that they will not come and use our platform and dump us afterwards. No,we don’t want ‘use and dump”, he said.

    Ajayi, who is also the state chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) in the state said the AD was perfecting preparations for the elections.

    He added that IPAC was also taking steps to strengthen harmony among the political parties and ensure that the forthcoming polls were peaceful.

    He said the party and IPAC were relying on the promise of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission that it would ensure the election was free and fair.

    Assessing the performance of the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration in the last two years, Ajayi said it had done well.

    He said the achievement of the governor in the area of road construction was commendable, noting that gridlock had been significantly tackled.

    “I commend Gov. Ambode. He has done well. He is visible in the area of infrastructural development.

    “However, he can still do better. He can do better to make more impact on the lives of Lagosians,” he said.