Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly Candidates Forum in Lagos State, on Saturday dissociated self from the lawsuit instituted against party and its leaders in the state by some members over alleged anti-party activities, describing it as mischievous and embarrassing in all its entirety.
It would be recalled that Otunba Segun Adewale, the senatorial candidate of the party for Lagos West Senatorial District in the last poll exercise led some state Assembly candidates at a press conference, where alleged that some party chieftains, including Chief Olabode George, Chief (Mrs.) Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, among others worked against their victory during the said poll, and therefore had instituted a suit against for alleged anti-party activities.
Speaking at a press conference, which took place at the party secretariat in Alagomeji area of Lagos, the 2023 Lagos East Senatorial Candidate of the party, Hon. Nicholas Akobada, further described the lawsuit as a deliberate distraction caused by some individuals who he said were known to create more troubles than solutions.
Akobada, while washing off the hands of the group from the lawsuits, declared pointedly that the Forum led by him knew nothing about it, saying that they would never be part of such that would bring disrepute to respectable leaders and organs of the party most especially at this time the National body had kick-started a healing and reconciliatory process for all members across board.
“We find it most unfortunate that some acclaimed members of our party instituted a lawsuit against the party’s leadership and State Party Managers and the Forum of Local Government Chairman of PDP Lagos State on allegations of an alleged engagement in anti-parties activities during the conduct of the 2023 General Election in Lagos State.
“We, the members of the aforementioned named body hereby disassociate and distance ourselves completely and outrightly from this frivolous lawsuits instituted against the leadership and organs of our party in Lagos and we see it as being mischievous and embarrassing in all its entirety.
“We as a respectable group who stood as candidates in the last general election undoubtedly should know better and hereby say unequivocally that we are not part of the perpetrators, we know nothing about the lawsuits and we will never be part of such that will bring disrepute to respectable leaders and organs of our party.
“Most especially at this time the National body has kick-started a healing and reconciliatory process for all members across board,” he said.
According to the party chieftain, the posturing of the aggrieved candidates, which he described as mischief and self-serving motives seem to be borne out of ego tripping, pledging that the Forum was committed to the constitution of the party that gives room to using internal mechanisms in handling party affairs instead of this disgraceful route.
“The mischief and self-serving motives from a group of individuals seems to be borne out of ego tripping, it’s just a distraction deliberately caused by some individuals in the party who are known to create more trouble to solve another
“We are committed to the constitution of the party that gives room to using internal mechanisms in handling party affairs instead of this disgraceful route.
“We have high regards for the leadership of our party which is also mutual to foster peace, reconciliation and hope for the future of our great party,” Akobada said.
“We are aware that there were challenges build up to 2023 general election and we can only learn from the experience, make amends and work towards a better and most fruitful outing in the future and all should know that success is not final, neither is failure fatal but the courage to continue is what counts,” he added.
On his part, the 2023 PDP candidate for Surulere Constituency 1, Bolaji Jeje, said the former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief George, remained the apex leader of the party in the state, acknowledging his dedication and zest, as well as his wealth of experience displayed towards them during the 2023 elections, which he said was a blessing.
“We equally used this medium to recognize the leader’s dedication and zest, your wealth of experience towards us was a blessing during the 2023 elections.
“We also unequivocally pass a vote of confidence on our party leadership in Lagos State from the apex leader, Chief Olabode George; Dr Abimbola Ogunkelu, Chief (Mrs) Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor, Dr. Charles Akitoye, Chief (Mrs) Aduke Maina, Chief (Mrs) Onikepo Oshidi, among others and down to all the local government and wards,” he said.
“We, the PDP National Assembly Candidates Forum in Lagos State are committed to peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and compliance with the dictates of our party’s constitution as only such can guarantee enabling and conducive atmosphere for our party to thrive and be successful,” he pledged.
