Council polls: Lagos PDP berates APC over violence-ridden primaries

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4 years ago

Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned Saturday’s primaries held by the All Progressives Congress (APC) which led to the death of two youths, saying the sad development only exposed the ruling party’s desperation to rule by force and at all cost the more.

The ruling APC on Saturday held its party primaries across the state to pick its candidates for the local government election holding in June.

Chairman of PDP, Engr Adedeji Doherty, expressed this concern on Sunday in a statement made available to newsmen, saying reports received of these deaths occurring amongst the APC family was worrisome and had sent jitters down the spines of PDP members across the state, raising concern of what could happen during the election proper.

“Reports filtering in have it that the infighting amongst the ranks of APC for candidates to emerge have degenerated to the extent of records of deaths.

“It is on record that two persons have been reported dead in the primaries in SuruLere LGA.

“In another development, in Imota Local Council Development Area, Deputy Council Leader, Ishola Tope Adesina, was shot dead by unknown gunmen

“The reports received of these deaths have sent jitters down the spines of PDP members to the extent of thoughts that if this could happen amongst a family fold, what could happen during the election proper?

“The PDP in Lagos State categorically states that the recent killing of innocent youths within the APC only exposes their desperation to rule by force and at all cost the more,” the party chieftain said.

Doherty, while condemning the exercise, maintained that conducting a peaceful election in Lagos State was “very important to the overall security of lives and property in the already security fragile country,” calling on the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to urgently look into the ugly situation and address it “for the success of the forthcoming council elections.”

PDP chairman also called on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, and all other security agencies in the state, to do the same, declaring that peace must be maintained at all cost in line with the collective desire of Lagosians.

“Peace must be maintained at all cost and that is what Lagosians want,” Doherty affirmed.