The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, has been endorsed by the Accord Party.
The ceremony took place at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja on Thursday, when leaders and members of the party said the time has come to work with Agbaje to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The job of presenting Agbaje to the gathering was that of Chairman, Board of Trustees of Accord Party, Reverend Adebayo Adeniji, who said his adoption was strategic.
He said there was the need for well-meaning people to join forces to take the state from the APC.
Adeniji said the party believed the adoption of Agbaje would help “rescue” the state and ensure residents enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“Today is a historic day because we have taken a step to give Lagos to the people. We have adopted Mr. Jimi Agbaje so that together, we can take the mantle of leadership in 2019. Agbaje has the vision and capacity to win and even deliver. We believe it is better to join efforts with a candidate who will give the state to the people,” he said.
Adeniji explained that Accord was only supporting the PDP governorship for the election but would field candidates for other elections in the state.
He enjoined party members to give their best to ensure victory for Agbaje in the governorship election as well as Accord candidates vying for legislative seats in the state.
The governorship candidate of Accord, Joseph Beckley, said he decided to concede to Agbaje in the general interest of the state and that his party’s decision to work with Agbaje was for the same reason. As first step to back up the party’s position, Berkerly revealed that no fewer than 20000 people had defected from the ruling APC to join Accord Party.
“We are ready to work with Agbaje to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress,” Berkerly said.
He called on party members to work hard to mobilise residents to vote for Agbaje in the 2019 election.
Responding, Agbaje said the endorsement was a honour, and promised to meet their aspirations.
“I want to assure you that as you have endorsed me, we will enter the government house and serve our people better than they are being served today. My message to all those who are still on the other side is that the freedom train is on the move. Let them join it before the momentum gets too much for them to catch up with. It is time to move on.
“As for the other people, my message is clear. The time has come for them to leave. They have been chasing our posters and billboards as if those are what really mattered. They are not going after the people. Tell them enough is enough. Freedom for Lagos. Freedom from jati jati. Freedom from Baba sope. Freedom from Eko n losun.”
Accord Party said that it received 20,000 members of the APC who defected to the party on Thursday.
Present at the event was Wale Oluwo, who recently resigned from the cabinet of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources to join PDP, as well as PDP deputy -governorship candidate, Mrs. Haleemat Busari. Also present was the PDP state Chairman, Dr. Adebola Dominic; and Publicity Secretary, Taofeek Gani.
Prince Sunday Ajayi, who led the APC defectors into Accord, said they left their former party owing to what they called the culture of impunuty and imposition.
He said the inability of Ambode and others to get tickets for re-election despite good performance was proof that APC in the state was only for some people and not for members.