…Calls for free, fair primaries
As the 2023 elections draw nearer with the party’s primaries around the corner, a group, Concerned Democrats in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has intensified their call for free and fair primaries in Lagos State.
This call is coming on the heels of fresh allegations against one of the leading gubernatorial aspirants, Abdul Azeez Olajide Adediran popular known as Jandor and the State Vice Chairman West, Hon. Sunday Olaifa, both of whom have been accused of pulling strings to impose candidates in various constituencies across the state.
In a chat with our correspondent, a member of the group who craved anonymity revealed that the duo have been going around using the names of the National Chairman of the Party, Iyorchia Ayu and the Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, to impose their preferred candidates for the House of Representatives and Assembly seats in various constituencies.
For instance, in Ikorodu the duo were said to be rooting for one Awesu just as they were doing in Agege, Mainland, Oshodi-Isolo among others.
The source expressed shock that Jandor who is yet to clinch the gubernatorial ticket of the party is going around meddling into the affairs of various constituencies in the state by expressing his biases for his preferred candidates.
According to the source: “Jandor has started behaving like a governorship candidate of the party, meddling in some of the local government’s affairs. He has started exhibiting bias by telling his Lagos for Lagos team to deliver a particular candidate wherever he is interested.
“For instance in Ikorodu where he has Awesu as his preferred candidate. The same thing is happening in Agege, Mainland and in Oshodi-Isolo. The story of Oshodi Isolo is so pathetic. A local government with two federal constituencies. Jandor has decided to completely give it out to Olaifa and his group.
“Constituency l completely given to former reps member, Hon. Sadimu because all the ad-hoc delegates are his people.
“In constituency 2, the list of delegates were completely dominated by Lagos for Lagos members. Jandor, in collaboration with Olaifa, has started selling fake news that the National Secretary of the party is interested in one Obioma to be a candidate for House of Reps in constituency 2.”
Speaking further, the source warned that the gubernatorial aspirant should be called to order and steer clear the politics in the local government, hinting that his overbearing influence must have been what the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) saw in him to kick him out.
“The same thing that made Jandor and his people to leave APC for PDP is the exact thing that he is practicing in PDP now.
“Jandor should realise that what goes round comes around. He should allow every local government to play their politics the way they deem fit.”
A member of the party in Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II, Joy Enejo, also said: “If this news is true; then those delegates that were given to Hon. Sunday Olaifa in Oshodi-Isolo Federal constituency 2 should be ready to work or defend the party votes at the polling stations during the forthcoming primaries and at the general elections.”
In his terse comment, another party member, Samuel Udeh, declared that “Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency 1&2 are not for sale.”
All efforts to reach Jandor and Olaifa were not fruitful, Olaifa did not pick calls as at the time of filing this story.