Three days before the March 18 governorship and state assembly polls, governors, parties, candidates and other critical stakeholders were locked in an intense battle for 28 governorship slots and 993 legislative seats, yesterday.
The massive push by the various politicians to get the upper hand at the polls has led to a reign of alignments, re-alignments, endorsements and high-wire intrigues across the states.
In Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who on Monday got the endorsement of nine political parties, yesterday received the backing of Accord and Oodua People’s Congress, OPC. In essence, Sanwo-Olu has the support of 10 of the 18 registered political parties now.
In Oyo, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Governorship Candidate, Michael Lana, stepped down from the race and endorsed Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
n Ogun, a PDP House of Assembly candidate for Abeokuta South 1 Constituency, Solomon Enilolobo, backed the second-term ambition of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the APC.
However, in Kaduna, the Labour Party, LP, declined to align with PDP and insisted that its candidate will run and win the race to succeed Governor Nasir el-Rufai just as the De-registered Political Parties of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter declared their support for the APC Governorship Candidate, Senator Uba Sani.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 14 governorship candidates including Pastor Umo Eno of the ruling PDP and Obong Akanimo Udofia of the APC have signed a peace accord ahead of the Saturday elections.
Why we endorsed Sanwo-Olu, APC candidates — Accord
The leadership of Accord in Lagos State, endorsed Governor Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for re-election and all APC candidates in Saturday’s polls.
Lagos State Chairman of Accord, Dele Oladejo, who declared the endorsements at a media briefing in Ikeja, based the decision on Sanwo-Olu,’s performance in office since 2019.
Oladeji said members of the party across the state have been told to work for the re-election of Sanwo-Olu, adding that the party will also ensure the victory of APC House of Assembly candidates in Lagos.
OPC concurs
Also, President of the OPC, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi, at a briefing in Lagos, declared the group’s support for Sanwo-Olu.
“Today, OPC declares its total support for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. We believe that in these past four years, Governor Sanwo-Olu has made an enormous impact on the landscape, the life and the governance of the State of Excellence. His undeniable performance dictates that he should be allowed to continue in office for another four years so that he will further advance the lofty and people-oriented projects and programmes he has begun since 2019,” he said
Afolabi also noted concerns over the breakdown of law and order during the polls and vowed that the OPC wll fight against electoral violence.
“OPC will do everything to uphold these constitutionally-guaranteed rights and will not fold its hands while anybody or group of persons deprive anyone of these rights.
OPC will not tolerate electoral violence. We strongly advise that if there is anyone who has any plan to disturb the peace or prevent citizens from exercising their freedom of franchise for candidates and political parties of their choice, such a troublemaker should kill that plan,” he said.
SDP candidate steps down for Makinde
In Oyo, Lana, the SDP governorship candidate, said he was stepping down for Makinde because some of the leaders of the SDP in Oyo had sold out for a pittance and declared for the opposition without the consent of other stakeholders.
According to him, as a result of that action, other stakeholders decided to take a decision that will be in the best interest of the neglected, aggrieved party members, the candidates and the generality of the people of Oyo State.
He concluded that after several consultations, the party stakeholders resolved to align with Governor Seyi Makinde of the PDP.
The statement read in part: “During my radio interview on Lagelu FM, last Saturday, the 11th day of March 2023, I duly informed the members of the public that whatever step I would take would be determined by the decision of all candidates especially the House of Assembly candidates of the Social Democratic Party of which I am the governorship flag bearer.
“We have also consulted widely. We have talked with some national officers of the party and my supporters among the trade unions, traditional rulers, market associations and religious bodies.
“As you are aware, in almost all radio interviews I attended, I was asked whether, as it had become the habit of this party, I too would step down at the end of the day. Believing I was in the midst of ideologically sound members, and knowing myself, as a principled person, I always answered in the negative.
“I believed fervently that my gospel of preaching issues and ideas would earn me the victory that the people of Oyo State deserve.
“However, events of the past few weeks proved me wrong. Some people believed only in money politics and victory by vote-buying. In fact, I became persona non grata, the moment some people within the party realized that monies sourced solely for the purpose of electioneering would not be shared among them.
“After several consultations, we resolved that the best thing for Oyo State right now is to align ourselves with a really progressive candidate. We were in fact captured by an emotional statement by a 70-year old woman who said Governor Seyi Makinde not only paid her pensions promptly but also took care of the aged women and men during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“This is the trait of a person that has set out to write his name in history and ensure upliftment of the downtrodden in our state.
“After discussing with him, we decided that Engineer Seyi Makinde needs help from all capable hands within and outside the state to achieve his dreams for our state and we have resolved to assist him in doing this.” “We have therefore resolved to inform all our teeming supporters to vote massively for Seyi Makinde of the PDP on Saturday 18th March 2023 and get him re-elected as Governor of Oyo State.”
