Gov’ship poll: Accord Party dumps LP, endorses Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State chapter of the Accord Party (AP) has opted out of its alliance with Labour Party (LP), while it endorsed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the March 18 gov’ship election.

Dele Olajide, Lagos Accord Party chairman stated that the party opted out of the alliance because its contributions to Peter Obi’s victory in Lagos were discredited, while he noted that Obi’s victory was a collective effort of all tribes in Lagos and ‘not a solo effort of one tribe as being claimed in some quarters’.

He said: “Accord Party formed an alliance with LP because we believed in Obi’s capacity, capability and integrity, and all party members worked for his victory. But it is surprising that LP members and supporters are discrediting our contributions to the victory.

“We didn’t get any monetary reward for pitching our tents with LP and Obi, even going against our fellow tribesmen who called us saboteurs. But after the polls, our efforts were discredited, and LP members started bragging that Obi’s victory was their solo effort, and even promising to repeat the same at the governorship poll.

“We also wrote to the LP to renew the alliance for the governorship but our letter was ignored. We however wrote to the APC which responded swiftly.”

Olajide said Sanwo-Olu’s performance informed their decision to support his re-election, while adding that the party’s decision was also based on its resolve not to sacrifice the many achievements of the Sanwo-Olu-led administration on the altar of bitter politicking.

“We will not allow overzealous persons to cast a shadow on Lagos by putting a blemish on it. We, therefore, implore all Lagos residents to vote for credible candidates like Governor Sanwo-Olu on Saturday,” he added.

Accord Party governorship candidate Peter Oboyuwana, who corroborated Olajide, said he is stepping down his ambition for Sanwo-Olu due to his efforts at combating the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for laudable infrastructural development projects across the state.

The declaration and adoption of Governor Sanwo-Olu and all APC candidates were made in the presence of members of the Accord Party.