Lagos LG election: Over 1,000 aspirants jostle for PDP tickets

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Hon Moshood Salvador has disclosed that over 1,000 candidates are jostling for the chairmanship and councillorship ticket of the party in the forth-coming local government election in the state slated for July 22, 2017.

Salvador stated this in a meeting to brief the candidates and other party officials on the guidelines of the election released by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) after the recent stakeholders meeting.

Salvador, a former member of the House of the Representatives, noted that the large number of candidates was an indication that the party was still popular and command wide acceptance among Lagosians, amidst insinuations that the PDP is factionalised in the state.

He said: “Our candidates are well over 1,000, it shows that they know what they are doing and we are still accepted and popular in Lagos State. It is important for everybody that loves their candidates to give them guardian; we cannot all be expert in everything we are all from different profession.

I call them to let them know how to get their tax and other papers and the regulation and clearance, that would affect their political activities.

“I don’t know if people are buying form from anybody, I have not seen anybody, people need to be careful you cannot collect money or buy form outside PDP secretariat,” Salvador said.

He denied the existence of any other faction of PDP in the state, noting that he was the only duly elected chairman of the party in Lagos State, elected in a congress which was attended and recognised by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other security agencies.

On the credibility of the election, the chairman express optimism that in spite of the insistence of LASIEC not to use Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in the conduct of the election, there were assurances from the election umpire that the election would be free and fair.

“You have heard from the LASIEC chairman on the TV, that he would clarify with INEC on the authentic PDP chairman in Lagos; We did congress here and INEC was here, electing of chairman is done through congress; and not a letter from somebody that you are the chairman of Lagos PDP. They don’t have record with INEC and I don’t need to bother myself with that.

“The chances of the party is bright in the election, the LASIEC chairman keep telling us that she has a name to protect, and I would expose them if there is malpractices” Salvador added.