2019: ADC rules out merger with any other parties in Lagos

Chairman, Lagos State chapter of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Pastor Kayode Jacobs, on Thursday declared that his party will not merge or enter into any working agreement with any political party in the state for the 2019 general elections.

Jacobs made this declaration during a press conference held at the party’s secretariat in Onipanu, Lagos, after he and others, including the ADC governorship candidate, Mr. Fafowora,  party chieftains and members embarked on what they termed “Liberation Walk” from Maryland Roundabout to ADC office.

This was just as he called on the Nigeria Police to revert the law, which prevents people from posting political posters between 12am and 4am, contending that the law, if not reversed would deny many candidates and political parties opportunity to campaign through the posting of posters.

The party boss, while describing ADC, as the third largest party in Nigeria, said the party would contest the governorship, National and House Assembly elections in Lagos State next year.

He disassociated the party and himself from any purported arrangement with Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in Lagos State, noting that CUPP only operated at the national level.

According to him, the state chapter will only support any presidential candidate ADC approves for the February 16, 2019, presidential election based on working agreement with CUPP.

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“ADC is not merging with any party in Lagos for 2019 elections. We are going to field candidates in all the elections. We will liberate Lagos State in 2019. ADC is the third largest party in Nigeria. We are going to contest the election against the two dominant parties and I am sure we are going to surprise them in Lagos.

“There is nothing like CUPP arrangement in Lagos State. We are only part of the CUPP at the national level. CUPP is only operating at the national level and we are going to work with CUPP’s choice for February 16, 2019,” he said.

Speaking on the issue of posters, the party boss called on the Commissioner of Police in the state to please as soon as possible and with immediate effect reverse the no posting of posters order at night, saying the law was put in place to favour the ruling party in the state.

According to Jacobs, since the law was put in place, other political parties, including ADC had found it difficult to post their posters and those of their candidates, whereas the ruling party had continued to do theirs unhindered, a development he said had accounted for why their posters had flooded every nook and cranny of the state.

“And in Lagos, there is no other time that you can post posters except in the night,” he said, adding that doing so during the day attracted a lot of harassment and intimidation, particularly from miscreants, among others.

“So this is our time, the ban has been lifted on campaigns so some power should not be taking away again. So I want to plead with the police to reverse the law and be everywhere on ground at night to ensure that there is no crisis and no trouble, and harassment of people that are out to post political posters,” he said.