The youth wing of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) under the aegis of PDP Youth Circuit during the weekend criticised the Action Congress of Nigeria-led government in Lagos State over what it termed “desperate antics” of leadership.
It said the ACN had “resorted to petty blackmail having lost a local government council election.”
The youths called on security agencies to provide protection for Mr Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro, whom they said has come under threats, after he was declared the duly elected winner of Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area chairmanship election.
Below is a full text of the statement.
We, the PDP Youth Circuit, youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wish to express with disdain our observation of events as it concerns the mandate of Hon. Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro. We wholeheartedly condemn the desperate antics of the ACN-led government of Lagos state.
The world is aware of how members of the electorate in Ikoyi-Obalende Development Area were deprived of their right to choose when on the 22nd of October 2011, the mandate they gave Babajide Obanikoro was stolen by the ACN government of Lagos state. The PDP joined Hon. Obanikoro in crying out over the apparent injustice. Our position was vindicated when his mandate was returned by the election tribunal on the 4th of October, 2012.
Expectedly, a desperate ACN and its candidate in the election appealed the judgment and then the drama started. The appeal hearing which was earlier adjourned till the 15th of November, 2012 has surprisingly been adjourned indefinitely. Of course, this the ACN made possible by orchestrating frivolous petitions against the eminent judges who were on the election petition tribunal. The floating petitions alleged bribery and corruption.
We therefore find it shocking that a political party that has benefited so much from the fairness and uprightness of the judiciary has resorted to petty blackmail having lost a local government council election.
The ACN, through court judgments by federal judges now rule in Ekiti, Edo and Osun states despite the fact that they are an opposition party. The immaturity and pettiness of the Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Action Congress of Nigeria is unacceptable. In strong terms, we denounce and condemn it.
Every attempt by the ACN to delay and deny justice in this matter is not only callous but undemocratic and reminiscent of stone age politics. We understand the plot is to stall the appeal until the PDP candidate can enjoy the spoils of office for a full term. We condemn this wicked frustration of the will of the people and express our solidarity for Hon. Babajide Obanikoro, the Chairman of Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area.
We will explore all democratic avenues of combating the menace of the ACN on this matter. We however wish to sound a note of warning that this is just the first in a series of elections that the ACN will be losing in Lagos state. The PDP and her youth wing PDPYC is prepared to play the politics of issues without bitterness.
We hereby call on the judiciary to stand by what is right and ensure that justice is done. We also call on the law enforcement agencies, the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the safety and security of Hon. Babajide Obanikoro, members of his family and his supporters. He has informed us of the various threats to his life via telephone and unmarked car tailgating. We do not trust the ACN based on the various steps they have taken so far. They have acted with sheer desperation and unbridled lust for power.
We are watching.
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