National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, has called on party members in Lagos State to work harder in order to garner more votes for the party during Saturday’s Governorship and States Assembly elections.
Speaking at the APC stakeholders’ meeting held at the party office on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja, Tinubu decried the low turnout off voters during the February 23, Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Noting that there was room for improvement in the coming elections, Tinubu charged the youths who prefer to play football or engage in other activities on election days to participate in the voting before doing any other thing.
He also advised party followers and supporters to promote peace and harmony on poll day by shunning violence across the state.
He admonished youths who are fond of playing football on the road during elections to cast their ballots before their game.
To canvassers, mobilisers and party agents, he said: “Go to your wards and see your leaders at the local government as canvassers and mobilisers. Take the membership list, mobilise and do your best. If you want to be a leader, you try to act like a leader.
“On Saturday, I want to be able to announce that the in the 20 local governments, according to the INEC, we have won 40 House of Assembly seats. If you lose your polling booth, you are on your own. If you lose the House of Assembly in your constituency, don’t come back home. That means you cannot deliver.”
The former governor of Lagos thanked party members for delivering the state for the party in the Presidential and National Assembly polls.
He particularly thanked chieftains and members from five local governments; Mushin, Agege, Ikorodu, Lagos Mainland and Lagos Island, whom he said voted massively for the party.
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“These five local governments came top and we have to recognise them. Those that did not measure up to expectation, we have to encourage them. On Saturday, be prepared. Call ward meetings tonight. Ask about the problems of party members. Some people have complaints. Try to solve them.
“We went to vote, not to buy votes. You should go and work and come back for reward. The party and government have been serving you. We pay WAEC and JAMB fees of your children in schools. We take care of students in schools.
“You agents, you need to be wise and encouraged. You worked without taking money from the party. Canvassers should double their efforts. Don’t go to sleep. You did not mobilise enough. It is a shame. Out of six million voters, we did not record half. It was a poor performance, unlike the Lagos that I know. Alimosho was disappointing. Oshodi was a struggle. So were Kosofe and Somolu. Voters barely showed up.”
Tinubu called for peaceful polls, advising members and Lagosians to shun untoward behaviours during the exercise.
He said: “We don’t want fight. We want peace. We want to win election. We are going to beat our opponents at the polls. Definitely, there is no need for violence. When you are confident of winning, you don’t disrupt voting. When you are provoked, ignore them.”
Present at the meeting were; Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule, Deputy Governorship candidate Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, former Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro, Party Chairman Tunde Balogun, secretary Dr. Wale Ahmed, Governorship Advisory Council, GAC, members; Prince Tajudeen Olusi and Busura Alebiosu, former Minister of State for Defence Demola Seriki, former Finance Commissioner Olawale Edun, among other party stalwarts.
