LG Polls: We’re sure of victory in Oshodi-Isolo – PDP 

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area (LGA), Hon. Sunday Olaifa has boasted that his party stands a greater chance in the forthcoming local council polls.

Olaifa who doubles as the Deputy National Chairman of PDP 774 LGA Chairmen in Nigeria and the Chair-of-Chair of Lagos State PDP LGA Chairmen Forum, in a chat with ECHONEWS, emphasised that, all things being equal, his party will seize the political powers in Oshodi-Isolo LGA.

Olaifa who was PDP’s flag bearer in the 2011 local council polls but lost out to the incumbent chairman, Hon. Shamsudeen Olaleye, claimed that the election and that of 2017 were characterised by anomalies, blaming the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) for the loss of his party.

He said the elections were not conducted professionally by LASIEC.

He, however, called on the electoral umpire to emulate the democratic nature of his party, which allowed free and fair election in 2015 general election that brought in President Muhammadu Buhari, in the coming local government election.

His words: “Of course, we are very prepared. As a party, PDP in Oshodi-Isolo and across Lagos State, we are ready, prepared not only to take part in the forthcoming election in Lagos State but to win. I can go to bank with it that Oshodi-Isolo belongs to PDP. You all saw what happened in 2015, PDP won all elections, PDP won the presidential election. Jimi Agbaje won in Oshodi-Isolo, Otunba Segun Adewale who was then the senatorial candidate won in Oshodi-Isolo, the two Federal House of Reps seats in Oshodi-Isolo were won by PDP – Hon. Shadimu and Hon. Tony Nwulu, the latter won by defeating the incumbent MHR who was from APC in Isolo. All these happened under my leadership. Even the state assembly, Hon. Shokunle and Hon. Jude Idimogu won the seats in Oshodi and Isolo respectively. That’s to make it clearer that Oshodi-Isolo belongs to PDP 100 percent.

He announced the party’s plan to present strong candidates for the councillors hip and chairmanship polls after holding its primaries.

Olaifa called on the LASIEC to ensure that the votes count in the forthcoming local government polls.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Justice Mrs. Phillips to allow votes to count, because we’ve always been having bitter experience from LASIEC. One of the obvious scenarios to back this up was what happened in Ishaga-Ire Akari Ward F4 in the last LG election when the returning officer had already submitted his pre-prepared return as at 12noon when election was still going on.” Olaifa alleged.

He added: “If PDP can conduct a free and fair election In 2015 that brought President Buhari into power, Lagos, as the centre of Excellence, should allow Lagosians to decide who will be their councillors in all the political wards. That’s our position and to us, APC is defeatable in all wards in Oshodi-Isolo; Ilasa, Okota, Ajao Estate and others but our confidence in LASIEC is 40 percent due to our past experiences. This time around, they should allow votes to count, this is democracy, minority will have their say same as the majority. We should all meet on the field.”