Thirty one political parties in Lagos state under the agies of Alliance for New Democratic Lagos have cautioned Lagos Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC not to obstruct democratic process but to allow credible party primaries to determine the second term aspiration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode instead of pressurizing the governor to step down his quest for reelection in 2019.
The spokesperson of the alliance of the 31 political parties, Dr Segun Awe Obe, made this disclosure on Monday in Lagos following the stakeholders consultative rally held in Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, where leaders and stalwarts of 31 political parties being coordinated by the Olisa Agbakoba led People’s Trust, decided to wade into the matter in the interest of democratic governance and the Lagos electorate.
The movement asserted that rather than compel the Governor to step down for his opponent, Jide Sanwo olu as done in the case of another aspirant, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, members of the Lagos Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC as democrats should allow the primary elections of the party to determine the acceptance and popularity or otherwise of the second term bid of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode
It said: “We are of the strong view that the Lagos Governor Advisory Council as a supposed body of democrats cannot be seen shortchanging or circumventing democracy as well as the popular rights, will and mandate of card carrying members of the Party but to allow Ambode and Sanwo olu to exercise their democratic rights to test their popularity before the supposed owners of the party, APC members in Lagos.”
Finally, the new Lagos alliance, in furtherance of its agenda to birth a new democratic Lagos also announced that it has accredited about five hundred and fifty independent monitors and observers to be deployed to cover the governorship primary elections of the APC in Lagos on Monday to ensure free, fair and credible primary elections in APC involving both Ambode and Sanwo olu on Tuesday.
