THE Lagos chapter of the Accord Party (AP) has made a U-turn and opted out of its alliance with the Labour Party (LP), instead choosing to endorse APC’s Babajide Sanwo-Olu ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial polls.
According to media reports, the Lagos Accord Party Chairman, Dele Olajide said the party opted out of the alliance with LP because its contributions to Peter Obi’s victory in Lagos were not recognised and commended.
He noted that Obi’s victory was a collective effort of all tribes in Lagos and ‘not a solo effort of one tribe as being claimed in some quarters’.
In his words: “Accord Party formed an alliance with LP because we believed in Obi’s capacity, capability and integrity, and all party members worked for his victory. But it is surprising that LP members and supporters are discrediting our contributions to the victory.
“We didn’t get any monetary reward for pitching our tents with LP and Obi, even going against our fellow tribesmen who called us saboteurs. But after the polls, our efforts were discredited, and LP members started bragging that Obi’s victory was their solo effort, and even promising to repeat the same at the governorship poll.
“We also wrote to the LP to renew the alliance for the governorship but our letter was ignored. We however wrote to the APC which responded swiftly.”
Olajide also claimed that Sanwo-Olu’s performance informed their decision to support his re-election, adding that the party’s decision was also based on its resolve not to sacrifice the many achievements of the Sanwo-Olu-led administration on the altar of bitter politicking.
“We will not allow overzealous persons to cast a shadow on Lagos by putting a blemish on it. We, therefore, implore all Lagos residents to vote for credible candidates like Governor Sanwo-Olu on Saturday,” he stated.
Accord Party’s Governorship candidate, Peter Oboyuwana, who corroborated Olajide, said he is stepping down for Sanwo-Olu due to his efforts at combating the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for laudable infrastructural development projects across the state.
The declaration and adoption of Governor Sanwo-Olu and all APC candidates were made in the presence of members of the Accord Party.
THE NATION
