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Tag: Sanwo-Olu

  • Governorship: Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Abdulrazak lead

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared to be heading for victory last night in the governorship election in Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Bauchi States as results began coming in from the various polling booths.

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was looking good in Adamawa, Enugu, Delta, Ebomyi and Akwa Ibom States.

    In Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC who was projected by The Nation as the candidate to beat yesterday, established a strong lead ahead of his closest rival, Jimi Agbaje of the PDP with the majority of the votes   cast in such areas as Ikorodu, Alimoso, Badagry and Lagos Island.

    Sanwo-Olu was the preferred candidate at Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s polling unit in Victoria Garden City, Lekki.

    He got 223 votes there as against the 175 votes polled by Agbaje.

    The ruling party lost to the PDP by a wide margin during the presidential election two weeks ago.

    At PU 007, Anglican Primary School, Iworo, Badagry LGA the APC candidate got 207 while the PDP received 74 votes.

    Prince Dapo Abiodun of APC held firm in most parts of Ijebu, Remo , Egbaland and Otta.

    He also did well in Yewaland although Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM)   seemed to have an edge there, being an indigene.

    Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the APC appeared to have confirmed the uprooting of the PDP in Kwara State with another emphatic win.

    AbdulRazaq won his polling unit at Idigba, Adewole ward with 592 votes as against PDP’s 80.

    He also got 201 votes at Ode Oba Onilu, Ilorin as against the 52 for PDP.

    At press time, there was a wide gap between his votes and what the PDP candidate Razaq Atunwa had garnered.

    It was also clear that Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State had won in most of the polling centres where INEC returning officers had announced results.

    Bagudu got 572 votes against the 7 received by Sen. Isa Galaudu of PDP at Iyan Gwandu polling unit 012, Marafa ward.

    In Nasarawa 2 polling units 002, Bagudu got 526 votes and Galaudi 98.

    At polling unit 008 at GRA Kindi Zauro, Nasarawa ward in Birnin Kebbi, Bagudu scored 354 while Galaudi, scored 87.

    In Garkar Mai-Alelu polling unit 006, where the governor cast his vote, the APC received 745 votes against 23 garnered by the PDP.

    The trend was similar in Sokoto and Bauchi State.

    Official results from polling stations in Adamawa, Enugu, Delta, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom gave it to the PDP candidates.

    The PDP won the governorship election in former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s polling Unit 012 of Ajiya Ward of Adamawa North Local Government Area.

    Announcing the results at the unit, the presiding officer declared that the APC polled 99 votes while the PDP scored 161 votes. The ADC candidate scored 51 votes while the SDP candidate got only one vote.

    Similarly, the PDP trounced the ruling APC with a 50 votes margin at the polling unit in front of Adamawa State deputy governor’s office

    According to the announced results, APC scored 63 votes, while PDP got 113 votes. The ADC got 78 votes.

    In the presidential elections of February 23, APC celebrated a victory over PDP at the same polling unit with 187 votes against 167 votes.

    As it was during last month’s presidential and national assembly elections, many top politicians failed to deliver even their polling units.

    President Muhammadu Buhari delivered his Unit 003 s in Sarkin Yara A Ward in Daura Local Government Area of the State for the APC governorship candidate Aminu Masari, with 370 votes.

    Senator Yakubu Lado-Danmarke of the PPD polled 42 votes.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State lost his polling unit to the PDP in the gubernatorial election.

    The All Progressives Congress candidate, Adebayo Adelabu, scored 112 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Seyi Makinde, scored 145 votes.

    A former Oyo State governor, Rasheed Ladoja won the governorship election in Polling Unit 13, Ward 10, Ibadan North Local Government Area for the PDP with 180 votes while APC received 34 votes.

    Dapo Abiodun ,the APC flag bearer in Ogun got 240 votes at his Ward 3 Unit 2, Ita Osanyin, Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area to beat his closest rival, Adekunle Akinlade, of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), who polled 71 votes.

    A factional governorship candidate of the PDP who went into an alliance with Akinlade against Abiodun was roundly beaten  at his polling unit at Ward 5 Unit 4 Wesley Nursery and Primary School, Iperu, Ikenne.

    At the end of voting APC scored 197 votes, while the APM polled 75 votes.

    The PDP and ADC polled 6 and 2 votes respectively.

    The APC also floored former governor Ayodele Fayose at his unit at Afao Ekiti in Irepodun Ifelodun local government area of the state.

    The APC’s candidate in Irepodun/Ifelodun constituency 2, Alhaji Hakeem Jamiu, beat the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Sunday Omosilade by scoring 168 against PDP candidate’s 26 at St David’s Primary School polling unit in Afao Ekiti.

    Omosilade, who is  Fayose’s Personal Assistant, had earlier in a letter dated March 1 and addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, signified his intention to withdraw from the race.

    But the INEC said it was not aware of such withdrawal, saying he should have withdrawn 45 days to the poll.

    Also, at units 15 and 003, Igbemo ward, Jamiu recorded 171 and 335 votes respectively, while PDP polled 0 in the two units.

  • Sanwo-Olu is candidate to beat in Lagos

    AFTER several weeks of intense campaigns and alliances laced with some drama by the various political parties, Nigerians will be trooping to the polling booths once again today to elect governors for 29 of the 36 states. Also to be elected today are legislators for all the state houses of assembly. Although 1, 066 candidates were cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the governorship polls, and 14, 583 for the state assembly elections, some have since been declared ineligible by the courts while some others have stepped down following alliance talks among the parties.

    One of the state assembly candidates died on Wednesday. He is Adamu Kwanate, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Nasarawo/Binyeri (Mayo Belwa 1) in Adamawa State. He was said to have collapsed during a campaign in Kwanate and rushed to a hospital in Yola, the state capital where he died.

    The INEC which is still fresh with its experience from the February 23 presidential and national assembly elections,says it is ready for the latest round of polls. The police and the army say they are equally ready although the army has warned that its men will be ‘tough’ this time around.

    As it was during the presidential/national assembly elections,today’s polls will be a straight fight between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But more attention will be on Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Benue, Imo, Plateau, Adamawa, Zamfara and Akwa Ibom States largely on account of the outcome of the last presidential election, and in some cases the events leading to the emergence of the governorship candidates ,and the personalities involved in shaping the results of the polls.

    There will be no governorship election in Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Osun and Ondo states.

    LAGOS:

    In Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC is the candidate to beat. He is the most visible of the candidates and has done more campaigns than everybody else in the race, including PDP’s Jimi Agbaje . Sanwo-Olu has also been endorsed by a former governor of the state and the current minister of Power,Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and the incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The APC beat the main opposition party, the ‘PDP, in the presidential election, even if it was with a narrow margin of130,000. The ruling party also showed it’s supremacy by winning all the Senatorial seats and most of the House of Representatives seats. The outcome of the election spurred Sanwo-Olu and his party on to embark on an aggressive campaign drive across the state, wooing more interest groups.

    Sanwo-Olu’s candidacy received a great boost during the week,Tuesday precisely, When the Ifeanyi Ubah-led Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) announced its endorsement of the APC candidate for today’s election. Ubah, who emerged as the only senator from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the February 26 election, said he was taking it upon himself to mobilise Igbo residing in Lagos State to vote for the APC candidate with a view to “putting in a round peg in a round hole.”

    He said: ”TAN is a national platform but also we have our ethnic structure. For the Igbo in Lagos, we are speaking for them, we have consulted with them widely. ”We have told them why it is important to support APC structure and to vote in Sanwo-Olu on Saturday. ”Visible work starts tomorrow but we have done some underground work prior to this news briefing. ”The most important thing is that we will not want to have friction with the Yoruba or any other ethnic group in Lagos. ”I think we are coming in at this time to swiftly get involved by putting in a round peg in a round hole.” Sections of the Igbo community had earlier endorsed SanwoOlu’s candidacy. The APC candidate is thus tipped to win the poll.

    OGUN:

    The APC also went  on a fresh offensive in Ogun State with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo  personally leading the party’s ward-to-ward campaign.With him on  the Abeokuta, the state capital  campaign on Wednesday were  Chief  Olusegun Osoba who is a former governor of the state and the party’s governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    Abiodun has a battle to fight with Adekunle Akinlade of the  Allied Peoples Movement (APM), PDP’s Buruji Kashamu and Gboyega Isiaka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). But following the re-alignment of political forces in the state within the last 48 hours,the race   seems to be have been reduced to a two-way battle between Abiodun and Akinlade.

    The Director General of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation,Chief Gbenga Daniel, went beyond political differences by directing his supporters to vote for APC’s Abiodun, while another PDP chieftain in the state, Ladi Adebutu, asked his own supporters to back  Akinlade after the two sides had reached an agreement on the sharing of appointments  and contracts in the event  of Akinlade winning.

    Adebutu had been parading himself as the party’s governorship candidate until the courts affirmed Kashamu as PDP’s duly elected candidate.

    OYO:

    Observers brand the race for the Oyo State Government House too close to call between Mr. Adebayo Adelabu of the APC and Mr. Seyi Makinde of PDP after the two men succeeded in getting some governorship candidates to step down for them earlier in the week.

    The strongman of Ogbomoso politics and former governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) threw in his lot with Adelabu while Olufemi Lanlehin of the ADC and Sharafadeen Alli of  Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) made way for Makinde.

    KWARA:

    Senate President Bukola Saraki returned to Ilorin during the week to personally take charge of the PDP campaign and see what he can salvage of his political empire after the February routing he and the party suffered in the hands of the APC and the O to ge movement.

    Notwithstanding, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the APC looks set to beat Alhaji Razaq Atunwa of the PDP.

    The APC says its performance today will remove once and for all whatever is left of the Saraki political dynasty in the state.

    SOKOTO:

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State will square up with his former deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu who is flying the APC flag. It  will be a make or mar contest for Tambuwal who joined the governorship race only after defecting to the PDP and losing out in the party’s presidential primaries.

    It will also show who, between him and his erstwhile political godfather, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, holds the ace in Sokoto politics.

    KADUNA:

    It is no less a make or mar contest for Governor Nasir El-Rufai in Kaduna State. He will be facing a revved up PDP machinery manned by former Vice  President Namadi Sambo, former governor of the State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and the party’s governorship candidate, Isa Ashiru. There is also the massive opposition from the Christian- dominated southern part of the state.

    BENUE:

    The contest in Benue State will determine the strength of  Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and the man who made him governor, Senator George Akume. The PDP proved the stronger of the two sides in the presidential and National Assembly elections, but Ortom and Akume, who is now supporting Emmanuel Jime of  the  APC, are now poised for a rematch.

    IMO:

    In Imo State, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP is favoured ahead of Senator Hope Uzodinma of the APC and Uche Nwosu of Action Alliance (AA) who is enjoying immense support from his father in law and incumbent governor Rochas Okorocha. Okorocha is currently under suspension by his party, APC, for campaigning for Nwosu at the expense  of the party’s candidate, Uzodinma.

    PLATEAU:

    The PDP is encouraged by the outcome of the last presidential election in Plateau State  to go all out to claim the State from the APC, whose candidate, Simeon Lalong is seeking a second term. Flying the PDP flag is 76 year old Jerry Useni, a retired general and former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    ADAMAWA:

    Adamawa is another battleground for the two parties. It is currently governed by APC’s Bindo Umaru Jibrilla who wants a second term on the platform  of the party. His main challenger is PDP’s Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. Not only did the PDP win the state during the last presidential election, it is also the home state of the  party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    ZAMFARA:

    The governorship race in Zamfara State is a special case.

    It was heading in one direction – PDP’s- until two weeks ago when the Court of Appeal allowed the APC to join the race. The primaries had split the party into two, resulting in litigations. At a point, the courts ruled that the party did not hold proper primaries and was not qualified to present candidates for all elections save presidential. Now,the party is presenting Moukhtar Idris Shehu who will square up with PDP’s Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

    DELTA: 

    Following its improved performance in the South-south during the last elections, the APC is looking charged to do even better in Delta and State today. Its governorship candidate in Delta, Great Ogboru, is banking on his popularity to wrest power from Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    AKWA IBOM: 

    While Nsima Ekere who is heavily  backed by Senator Godswill Akpabio,  is confident of turning the table against  the incumbent  Udom Emmanuel.

    Army, Police: We’re set to protect Nigeria’s democracy

    The army and the police have spoken of their determination to ensure that the democratic process  is not harmed in any way during and after  today’s elections.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, warned that soldiers are now ready more than ever before to deal with “those who are determined to undermine   our   electoral   process.”

    He said the army was in possession of intelligence showing that some people want to upset the process. “There are indications of their intent to take advantage of and to use the farmers/herders crisis, armed political thugs and ethnic militias to perpetrate acts of violence including bombings,’ he said.

    He added:” Some of them also intend to infiltrate domestic staff of political opponents, employ mercenaries to carry out acts of assassinations, use the social media for smear campaigns, hate speeches and spread fake news in a bid to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections. We must not allow them to succeed. “We shall not allow those who are determined to undermine our   electoral process   to succeed.”

    Read also: PDP to Buhari: Atiku ‘ll soon reclaim his mandate

    These forthcoming gubernatorial and state assembly elections are very crucial. These are elections that touch on the interest of the people at the grassroots and could likely be volatile in nature. “I want to state, and categorically warn that the Nigerian Army will not tolerate any acts that will undermine national security. This time around we shall be tough on those who plan to rig or disrupt the electoral process.”

    Yobe State Police Commissioner  Sunmuno Abdulmailiki and his Borno State counterpart   Damiam Chukwu have pledged maximum security of lives and property during and after the elections. “We have enough men on ground to police the election and ensure that voters are not intimidated in carrying out their civic duties. I am confident that the elections will be peaceful,” Abdulmaliki said in Maiduguri while Chukwu said deployments are strategically done in collaboration with other sister security agencies to ensure safety of voters across Borno State. Residents of both states want security to be beefed  around voting areas.

    Many residents  have travelled to their local government areas of origin to exercise their franchise. A security source in Maiduguri said: “The last elections were relatively safe  for those that travelled out and that serves as a morale booster for them towards the coming Saturday’s elections. “Though, there might be a little apprehension, note that  security operatives have also upped  their game in order to ensure safety of lives and property during this elections.”

    The Abia State Police are equally ready for the elections, according to Police Commissioner Ene Okon. “We are fully prepared. We have done the deployment of the command’s personnel,” he said on phone.

    He added: “INEC offices across the state are fully fortified with security. In each of the INEC local government offices, I have 12 Mobile Policemen to take care of security there. We have finished operation order for the exercise which was released since Monday and the relevant bodies have gotten theirs as well.

    “We have done deployment of policemen, Civil Defence, Immigration, Customs, Road Safety etc to all the 2, 750 polling units in the state. We have done deployment of four Mobile Policemen to each of the RAC centers.

    “We have deployed 10 armed Mobile Policemen to all the local government areas. We have equally covered all the wards and collation center with three Mobile Policemen respectively.”

    The Anambra State Police Command said it  has mapped out strategies to address major threats such as thuggery and cultism during the election.

    Briefing reporters in Awka, Police  Commissioner Mustapha Ladodo warned ballot box snatchers, their masters, agents and mischief makers to desist from such plans or have themselves to blame.

    He implored the electorate to come out enmasse to exercise their franchise as security would be around before, during and after the elections to protect them.  •

  • Yoruba groups endorses Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Adelabu for governorship election

    THE Yoruba Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YOYAN) in collaboration with the Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu political platform have endorsed All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidates in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states for Saturday’s election.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday, YOYAN President Prince Adeniyi Olutimehin said the group resolved to throw their weight behind the candidacy of the Lagos APC candidate Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his Ogun and Oyo States colleagues, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Dr. Bayo Adelabu after extensive consultations with major stakeholders.

    Olutimehin said the victory of the APC governorship candidates would ensure regional integration that would help the actualisation of envisioned development of Yoruba nation.

    “It is essential to ensure a well-structured integration that is formidable to achieve strong voice at the centre for steady progress of the Yoruba race, we have critically examined the options before us as a people and we are determined to be part of agenda that is geared towards ensuring a rewarding future for our region,” Olutimehin said.

    He stressed that the pursuit to have state governments that are on the same page across Southwest should definitely enhance harmonious and optimal infrastructural and socio-economic growth to make life more abundant for Yoruba people.

    Reiterating that the periods which Yoruba race had its best in terms of good governance and progress was when the government in Southwest shared same political ideology, Olutimehin said it was imperative that the Yoruba nation return to that era to rekindle the hope of the people, especially the youths in politics.

    He stressed that after examining the manifestoes of the APC candidates in the three states, it was discovered that all of them have strong will for greatness of the states they are aspiring to govern.

    “This should automatically translate to the emancipation of our people via economic prosperity, security, infrastructural rebirth, institutional reforms, health care, affordable and quality education. Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun and Adelabu are experience professionals that are capable of instituting a digitalise administration in their respective states, if elected. On this basis, we did not only endorsed them, but we have also deployed all mechanism and resources available to us in ensuring their victory at poll,” he said.

    Also, the bodies hailed APC stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osibajo for distinguishing the attributes of quintessential leaders to defend the course of democracy in the Southwest and Nigeria.

    “Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is an enigma and icon of all times. His patriotic virtues and philanthropic gesture, which had improved the lot of Yoruba people, cannot be overemphasised.

    Among members that were present in the gathering are Comrade Adedoyin Alli-Williams, Vice President BATBOS platform; Prince Adeyemi Adenuga, DG BATBOS platform; Mr. Dave Olayemi, National Secretary YOYAN; Comrade Kehinde Aregbe, Chairman, Ogun YOYAN; Mrs. Ebun Lawal, Vice Chairman, Oyo YOYAN; Mrs. Bunmi Ogunwa, Vice Chairman, Lagos YOYAN.

     

     

     

  • Youths urges Igbo to vote for Sanwo-Olu

    Group of youths within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State have vowed to mobilise votes for the party’s governorship candidate in Saturday’s election, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    They condemned what they called an attempt to create discord between the Yoruba and Igbo by some politicians.

    They urged the Igbo in Lagos to vote for Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat, because they have the intellectual capacity to deliver.

    At a meeting in Ajeromi, Lagos, the Youth Organising Secretary, Aregbe Idris, said Lagos is too sophisticated to propagate unholy sermons of discord and enmity against the backdrop of personal gains.

    He condemned what he called “unbridled words” that may heat up the polity, if not checked.

    He enjoined the youths in the state to throw their weight behind Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat by coming out en masse to vote them and the party’s candidates across the state on Saturday, irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.

    “A win for the APC means a grander and vibrant Lagos. I strongly believe in the intellectual capacity of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat to drive Lagos to greater heights, create opportunities for all and strengthen the fabric of unity existing in the state.

    “These are the breed of leaders that we need and not some misguided elements with uninformed sense of reasoning,” Argebe stressed.

     

     

  • Vote for Sanwo-Olu, others, civil servants told

    The Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Olukunle Ojo, has urged civil servants to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and others in tomorrow’s elections.

    According to him, this is necessary for the public to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    Ojo said the workers should canvass the support of their friends and neighbours for the APC candidates in the governorship and house of assembly polls.

    He said if the APC candiwon, the progress and development enjoyed by Lagosians will not be truncated.

    Ojo spoke yesterday when he met with the workers at the Office of the Chief of Staff, Alausa, Ikeja to solicit support for Sanwo-Olu, his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat and APC house of assembly candidates.

    Read also: Lokoja Port gets N1.6b crane

    Said he: “Lagos, as we all know, has enjoyed good governance since 1999. Right from the time of our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to former governor Babatunde Fashola and our vibrant Governor Akinwummi Ambode, Lagosians have been enjoying good governance. It is now time to vote for continuity, and more importantly to take Lagos to the next level. “You can see how our governor is campaigning vigorously for Sanwo-Olu and other APC candidates. So let all of us contribute our quota, perform our civic responsibilities by campaigning for the APC candidates. Please go out and vote massively for the APC candidates tomorrow.”

  • Lagos: group endorses Sanwo-Olu

    A Lagos based Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, OzzyBosco Smile Foundation has endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Presidential Party, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The NGO which powers the African Best Kid Entertainer and NDLEA youngest Celebrity Ambassador, OzzyBee a.k.a OzzyBosco WonderKid believes that Sanwo-Olu has a great love for the African Child and so will provide an enabling environment for Nigerian Children to find their feet when voted into office as the Governor of Lagos State.

    Speaking through the President of the Foundation; Chief Elizabeth Mojekwu, the foundation urges Lagosians to come out enmas on Saturday, the 9th of March and vote for the Governorship candidate of the APC and other candidates of the party to ensure continued progress in the development of Lagos which started far back from 1999 when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was Governor.

    It is our desire at OzzyBosco Smile Foundation, Chief Mojekwu says, to see a Lagos where every child is given equal opportunity to excel in their God given talents and areas of strength, as our major talent, Ozzybosco has excelled through dent of hard-work and consistency, coupled with the kind of opportunity provided by Lagos, the Nigerian home of diverse opportunities, which is why we are supporting the candidacy of Sanwo-Olu for the continuation of the abundance of opportunities for all children and everyone living in Lagos.

    Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the choice of OSF in Lagos, and we encourage all and sundry to ensure this comes to fruition through the casting of our votes on Saturday.

  • Lagos: Iyaloja vows to mobilise members for Sanwo-Olu’s victory

    The Iyaloja General of Lagos, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo on Wednesday vowed to mobilize market women in the state to vote candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming March 9 elections.

    Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo who received members of the Presidential Support Committee National Delegates led by Mr. Seyi Bamigbade, also a Coordinator of Lagos Progressive Vanguard on a door-to-door campaign for the APC governorship candidate in the state, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat as well as state House of Assembly candidates, commended the group for their zeal and dedication in ensuring the success of the door to door campaign in Lagos.

    She said, “I recall that we had a similar door-to-door campaign prior to the February 23 elections; we thank God that our effort for that exercise, was not in vain, as President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo emerged winners. Now, it is time to vote for continuity, competence and experience, because Babajide Sanwo-Olu has revealed his agenda for Lagos tagged, ‘THEME’, which stands for Traffic Management, Transportation, Health, Environment, Education and Technology. These are the basic aspects of development that will make Lagos become 21st-century Compliant, along with Entertainment and Tourism.

    “It is important that we let our people be aware of this project to enable them to understand the reason they should come out and vote Sanwo-Olu and other APC flag bearers,” she added.

    Also speaking at the door to door campaign, Chief Olusope Bodude an executive member of the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), commended the presidential Support Committee and the Lagos Progressive Vanguard for bringing the door to door campaign to Iyana Ipaja Garage.

    Olusope said the state chairman of NURTW Alhaji Agbede had since urged members of the union to ensure that the APC candidates in Lagos State win the elections.

    “We are ready to work for the victory of the party with million votes, and this is our tradition, and we have given our words,” Olusope said.

    In response, Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, the Secretary of Presidential Support Committee said APC will continue to win because of its developmental vision for the nation.

     

  • Lagos chief seeks votes for Sanwo-Olu, others

    The Bashorun Musulumi of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy has called on Lagosians to vote en mass for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all the House of Assembly candidates.

    Alabi-Macfoy, who is a chieftain of the APC, said votes for the party will ensure continuity of good governance witnessed in the state.

    Lagos, he said, has always been blessed with credible people as helmsmen.

    Alabi said “Since 1999, Lagos has been blessed with good governance in the form of good governors that have been doing everything to make Nigeria proud of her heritage. Although immediately after the military regime in 1979, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, being the first civilian governor did massively well and others who took off after did the same. The progress in infrastructure, employment, all good things is improving from one governor to another and we pray that the next governor that will come up from APC will continue with what others have done to move Lagos forward and make it more peaceful.”

    He urged the youth to eschew violence during and after Saturday exercise.

    “We have to continue telling the youths that they should not allow themselves to be used as hoodlums. During our youth days, what we do is to participate in preparing voters card and make sure we distribute ballot papers and others things that will make election go smoothly, but the way things are going now, the influx of lots of people has eroded the value system of we Lagosians and we keep on praying that everything will be ok.

    “We have to pray not for Lagos alone but for other states because if other states have the same facilities and the same developmental programmes like Lagos, people from those states will not come to Lagos, they will stay in their state and development will spread to those states,” he said.

  • 30 governorship candidates endorse Sanwo-Olu

    NO fewer than 30 governorship candidates of opposition parties yesterday endorsed the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flagbearer, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The candidates, under the aegis of the ‘Forum of Governorship Candidates in Lagos State (FOGCILS), promised to work for his victory at the poll on Saturday.

    The parties include Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA), Peoples redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Progressive Party (PPA), DCP, AGA, AMN, ABP, AGAP and FJP.

    Director of Inter-Party Relations, Sanwo-Olu Independent Campaign Organisation Sesan Olanrewaju hailed the decision of the flagbearers to step down, assuring that the beneficiary would run a government of inclusion, if elected at the poll.

    The convener of the forum, Akinola Obadia, the secretary, Shola Omolola and representative of the candidates, Chief Ishola Aregbesola of MAJA, said the candidates made the sacrifice for the growth, advancement and continuity of good governance in Lagos.

    They hailed former Governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and Governor Akinwuni Ambode for laying good foundation for any future governor to build on, adding that they are worthy of pride.

    Hailing Sanwo-Olu’s choice as the APC flagbearer, Obadia said: “Lagos needs somebody in the mould of Sanwo-Olu to continue to steer the ship of leadership of Centre of Excellence. Sanwo-Olu’s family pedigree, background, personality, private sector experience and his foray into politics have prepared him to take Lagos to the next level.

    The convener said Lagos has recorded steady progress in the last 20 years as the fastest growing economy in Africa, adding that its achievements in the areas of security, education, transportation, traffic management and infrastructural growth would be sustained by Sanwo-Olu, if elected.

    Obadia said: “Now that we have all endorsed Sanwo-Olu to mount the saddle, we shall all go out now and start preaching the gospel to our people at the grassroots and across the state that Lagosians should go out and vote en mass for Sanwo-Olu on Saturday.

    “We are sure of victory and we shall sing victory song together, we shall never allow Lagos to slide or allow sycophants and enemies of our people to get power through campaign of calumny or through the backdoor. We remain committed to a progressive and next level Lagos.”

  • Igbo campaign for Sanwo-Olu

    Members of a group, the Igbo Movement, yesterday embarked on a roadshow to campaign and mobilise Igbo traders to vote for the Lagos State All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s), governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday.

    They moved from Ogudu to Ojota and Mile 12, dancing, singing and distributing flyers to the Igbo in the areas. They sensitised them on the need to vote for Sanwo-Olu and other APC candidates for the house of assembly election.

    The Convener of Igbo Movement, Chris Onyekachi, said the essence of the roadshow is to support Sanwo-Olu and ensure that the Igbo vote massively for him and other APC candidates in Saturday’s poll.

    He said: “The essence of this roadshow is to show that the Igbo Movement in Lagos State is supporting the incoming governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, because we believe in the political ideals of our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “We believe in continuity. That was why the Igbo in Lagos gathered in my house this morning to support Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat, so that on Saturday we will vote for them. We will vote for the incoming governor and other APC candidates.”

    Onyekachi added: “You can see that Igbo elders from the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) are here. We are taking this roadshow to the markets where our people are trading to motivate them to come out en masse on Saturday and vote massively for Sanwo-Olu and other APC candidates.

    “The Igbo are supporting APC. This is what is happening. You can see the crowd yourself.”