Convener of Lagos4Lagos and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Lagos State for the 2023 General Elections, Dr Abdul Azeez Olajide Adediran popularly known as Jandor, on Thursday predicted an implosion in All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, ahead of the poll exercise, saying aggrieved chieftains and members of the ruling party would flock in droves to the opposition PDP following the endorsement of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the second term in office.
Sanwo-Olu during the week was endorsed for a second term of office by the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the Apex decision making body of the ruling APC, at its meeting which took place at the Government House in Marina and attended by the governor himself.
Jandor, who recently dumped APC for PDP, following irreconcilable differences, said this while playing host to a group within the main opposition party, Reset Lagos PDP headed by Dr Tokunbo Pearse, who came to his Ikeja office to endorse him as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming governorship poll.
The governorship hopeful, who described PDP as a democratic party compared to the ruling APC, maintaining that he was in the fold to win the governorship race, posited that he was in the know that the endorsement of Governor Sanwo-Olu for a second term was already creating tension, with some aggrieved chieftain and members, including some sitting members of Lagos State House Assembly getting set to cross over to PDP.
“You can see from what happened a few days back with the endorsement of Governor Sanwo-Olu, some aggrieved chieftains and members, we are aware of, are going to leave APC and join PDP. We have among the members of the State Assembly. APC in the state is about to implode,” he said.
Speaking further on his chances of clinching the party’s ticket and finally winning to become the next Lagos State governor, come 2023, Jandor, who recalled that he was warmly welcomed across the state by chieftains and members of PDP, said the gathering at the day’s endorsement in his office, were mainly forebears of the party, pointing out that no other governorship aspirant could parade such, adding: “Our chances are brighter.”
“Our chances, PDP is a democratic party. It is not what you see in APC. We are able to walk freely in PDP and more freely to local governments taking our campaigns there and interacting freely. That’s what we never saw in APC.
“In APC, one is always waiting for somebody to blow the whistle. There is room in PDP,” Jandor said.
“Secondly, if you see what we parade here, they are forebears of PDP. These are people who understand the party. We have all of them, then what do we need again?” he queried.
“Mention any other aspirant in PDP that can parade those, our chances are brighter,” he asserted.
The governorship hopeful welcomed the leader of Reset Lagos PDP, Dr Pearse and members of the group, applauding them for their support, even as he described Pearse as a highly committed party chieftain, with genuine love for a better Lagos that would be livable for everyone.
Speaking earlier, Pearse said the group he led took the decision to endorse Jandor for the coming governorship race in the state because he “is the most qualified for which I am supporting him, and hereby appeal to all party delegates to join me in endorsing him.”
According to Pearse, who is also a former governorship candidate in the state, Jandor has the financial wherewithal and the political sagacity to match any opponent in the race, saying “come the general election, we envisage thousands of registered APC members voting in solidarity with Lagos4Lagos rebellion against the unpopular APC administration.”
“With this development, PDP will accumulate enough numbers to win not only the governorship but all other races,” he said.
“A perennial problem experienced by PDP is the absence of local security operatives; popularly known as ‘strong boys.’ Jandors’ candidature will further enhance our capacity to defend our voted on election day,” he added.
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