By Rasaq Adebayo
Barely 47 days to the governorship election, there are indications that the governorship candidate of Accord Party (AP), Hakeem Olaogun-Dickson may terminate his ambition, dump his party and pitch tent with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reliable sources closed to the candidate and APC in Lagos told ECHONEWS that Dickson may soon declare intention to join APC after negotiation with the ruling party.
ECHONEWS gathered that a meeting has been schedule for this week between Dickson and some chieftains in the ruling APC, including the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde with the input of the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
After the purported meeting this week, it is expected that Dickson will formally announce his defection from Accord Party to APC.
As earlier reported by ECHONEWS, Lagos political observers had envisaged the defection of Dickson to APC, saying it would be added advantage for the ruling party.
Dickson is a former chairman of Surulere Local Government. He was appointed in 2017 by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission.
In May, 2022, Accord Party (AP) unanimously unveiled him as its governorship candidate for Lagos State for the 2023 gubernatorial election. He had earlier been nominated at the party’s primaries which was held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja.
While declaring him as the governorship candidate, the chairman of the Electoral Committee of the party, Comrade Lanre Ogundare, said: “By the power vested in me, I, hereby, declare Hon. Hakeem Olaogun Onikoyi Dickson as the governorship candidate of Accord Party for the 2023 General Elections.”
Reacting to the nomination, Dickson tendered his acceptance speech. “With a grateful heart and the sole obligation to devote every effort of my body, mind and spirit to lead our party to victory in 2023 and our State back to greatness, I humbly accept the nomination.”
According to the candidate, with this kind of a unity among members of Accord, “We are ready and eager to take on the APC, PDP and other 15 political parties next year 2023.”
He added that it would be a year of concern, quiet and sober reassessment of “Our State’s” character and purpose.
“It has already been a year when voters have confounded the experts. And I guarantee you that it will be the year when we give the government of this State back to the people of this State,” Dickson said.
